19 Filipinos secure PGT cards

LAUREL, Batangas — Filipino golfers made a strong showing at the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School, with 19 securing their coveted Tour cards for the 2025 season.

The competition, held at Splendido Taal Golf Club, saw 31 players earn their place, including top Filipino contenders like Christopher delos Santos, who finished fifth with a 295 total after a 76 in the final round.

Among the qualifiers were Orland Sumcad (73), Christopher Popp (75), Myung Chal Hwang (77), Taewon Ha (77), and amateur Paolo Wong (79), who tied for 27th at 308.

Other standout Filipinos like Josh Jorge (74-300) and Jhondie Quibol (77-300) also earned their spots, while seasoned players like Anthony Fernando and Angelo Anzuris narrowly missed out, finishing just one stroke shy of qualification.

The top honors went to Korean Jaehyun Jung, who held off a late charge from Filipino Carl Corpus to capture the low medal honors with a total of three-under-par 285. Despite a rocky start with back-to-back bogeys, Jung maintained his composure, sinking crucial birdies on the back nine, including one on the 10th hole, to secure the victory.

Though Jung claimed the title, the performance of Filipino golfers throughout the four-day event highlighted their growing presence and talent in the country’s premier golf circuit.

The PGT Tour season is set to begin on February 24 at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga, where these qualifiers will face off against the country’s best professionals for their share of the spotlight.

The Filipino qualifiers are Carl Corpus, Christopher delos Santos, Paul Echavez, James Ryan Lam, Dan Emilio Cruz, Ivan Monsalve, Josh Jorge, Jhondie Quibol, Carlos Packing, GJ Katigbak, Belem Arancon, Jonas Christian Magcalayo, Tom Gerard Marcelo, John Michael Uy, Reynaldo Pagunsan, Luis Bagtas, Christopher Popp, Orlan Sumcad, and Luigi Paolo Wong.