Regional players seek ICTSI Match Play glory

Promising golfers from Visayas and Mindanao are setting their sights on a top finish as they compete in the upcoming ICTSI Junior PGT National Match Play Finals starting Wednesday at The Country Club (TCC) in Laguna.

While Luzon finalists in the 13-15 age category may have a slight advantage due to their familiarity with the course, their counterparts from Visayas and Mindanao are equally determined to prove their mettle.

Luzon golfers such as Precious Zaragosa, Levonne Talion and twin sisters Mona and Lisa Sarines have honed their skills on the TCC’s challenging layout during previous tournaments.

But formidable contenders like Cebu’s Rane Chiu, Davaoeña Johanna Uyking, Cagayan de Oro’s Zero Plete and Gen. Santos native Alexie Gabi are expected to put up stiff competition, armed with solid performances throughout the season.

Tiffany Bernardino, representing Makati, also enters the girls’ division with strong momentum after securing her finals spot through the Visayas series. Her drive and determination will make her one to watch as she aims to leave her mark in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized event.

The boys’ 13-15 division is also expected to offer an unpredictable and fierce contest. Visayas qualifiers Nyito Tiongko and Inno Flores, and Mindanao finalists Clement Ordeneza and AJ Wacan will go head-to-head with top Luzon players John Paul Agustin Jr., Jose Carlos Taruc, John Majgen Gomez, Matthias Espina and multi-series finalist Luciano Copok.

Tiongko, in particular, has shown immense promise after delivering two dominant victories in Bacolod, where he outclassed his rivals by an average of 10 strokes.

His strong form and competitive spirit could make him a standout in the finals, marking the culmination of a five-month long nationwide series spearheaded by ICTSI, aimed at elevating junior golf while identifying and nurturing the country’s next generation of golfing stars.

The Match Play will feature not only the 13-15 age group but also competitions in the 8-9, 10-12 and premier 16-18 divisions.

The unpredictable nature of match play will bring added excitement, with the head-to-head format providing dramatic moments as players battle for supremacy.

The tournament is divided into two phases, beginning with an 18-hole stroke play event on Wednesday, which will determine player rankings for the ensuing knockout phase.