Thailand clinches title, but provinces take glory

Thailand may have walked away with the premier division crown, but it was the provinces of the Philippines that stole the show — delivering heart, grit, and no shortage of surprises at the 2024 JGFP International Interclub Championships held over the weekend at the Mimosa Plus Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles.

Thailand emerged victorious in the prestigious 13–18 Championship Division after holding off a strong final-round rally by Malaysia. Despite posting their lowest team score of the tournament on the final day with 157 points, the Thais finished with a three-day total of 491, just enough to edge out Malaysia by three.

Leading the Thai squad was standout performer Lapassapon Liberto Heras-Gomez, who closed with a one-under-par 55 points, thanks to three birdies against two bogeys. It was the first time in the tournament that he failed to break 70, but it was still enough to anchor his team’s title-clinching round. Teammates Sarunyapong Hongamata and Pranai Reankrai added 51 points each in a steady, balanced effort.

Malaysia put together a valiant final push with a 163-point round, the highest of the day. Nur Husna Alna Binti Karim Nast led the charge with 55 points, while Maverick Chua and Muhammad Afham Bin Othman both carded 54s. Despite their strong showing, they fell just short of overtaking Thailand’s overnight lead and settled for a silver-medal finish with 488 points.

TGA-Philippines secured third place with a total of 469. The team was led by Jadar Kiatphonsin, who delivered a final-round 54, with Wirada Tawinsang and Nicole Gan contributing 50 points apiece.

Just behind them was Go for Gold, which finished fourth with 461 points. Rainier Tagwalan paced the team with 55 points, while AJ Wacan and Adrian Bisera chipped in 51 and 50 points, respectively.

But while the international squads dominated the 13–18 division, the biggest story of the tournament came from the 12-and-under ranks, where young golfers from the provinces of the Philippines made a powerful statement.

Brittannika Golf Club, a small-town team from South Cotabato, pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by winning the 12-and-under Championship Division. Matching their opening round of 150 with another strong final-day showing, Brittannika posted a total of 300 points to defeat heavy favorite Camp Aguinaldo 2 by five.

Jared Saban was the star for Brittannika, firing a one-under 55 highlighted by five birdies and four bogeys. He was supported by cousin Laurence Saban, who tallied 48, and Brittanny Tamayo, who added 47. Marco Senador also contributed in earlier rounds to seal the team’s consistent performance.

Camp Aguinaldo 2 was led by 51-point rounds from Luis Espinosa and Maurysse Abalos, with Quincy Pilac adding 46 for a total of 295 points. Team Lue de Guzman took third place with 287 points, drawing strong final rounds from Brie Macasaet (48), Lucas de Guzman (47), and Sooren Lee (43).

Beyond the Championship Division, other provincial teams continued to impress across the developmental categories. Del Monte Golf Club from Bukidnon made a strong showing in Developmental 1, finishing second behind SG Asialink, thanks to the efforts of players like Mico Woo and Eliana Dumalaog. In Developmental 2, Cebu Country Club 1 and Baguio Country Club 1 fought their way onto the podium in second and third place, respectively. Standout players included Roro Borromeo and Miuniq Dy of Cebu, as well as Marco Angheng, Sevros Dionisio and Amiya Tablac of Baguio.

In the foreign category, Vietnam topped the 12-and-under division with 257 points, comfortably ahead of Japan, which scored 241. The international field added excitement and diversity to the event, showcasing golf’s growing global reach at the youth level.

Meanwhile, the National Division titles went to several notable squads.

Go for Gold captured the 13–18 National Championship. Xavier 1 triumphed in the National 13–18 Developmental Division, while Negros 2 took top honors in the other National 13–18 Developmental bracket.

What stood out throughout the tournament wasn’t just the tight finishes — it was the undeniable shift in Philippine junior golf’s balance of power.

For years, Metro Manila-based clubs have dominated the national scene, benefiting from access to top-tier facilities, coaching, and competitive circuits. But with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) expanding its reach and development programs across the country, regional players are no longer playing catch-up — they’re winning.

According to JGFP president Oliver Gan, the results mark a major turning point. “The momentum is already shifting. We’re seeing more and more provincial teams not just participating — but seriously competing, and now, winning,” Gan said.

This year’s event welcomed more than 400 young golfers from all over the Philippines, as well as neighboring countries, in what was the largest and most diverse edition of the Interclub to date. The event served not just as a competition, but as a celebration of inclusivity, potential, and the bright future of the sport.

If this tournament was any indication, the future of Philippine golf no longer lies solely in the capital.

It is being written in the hills of Bukidnon, the fairways of South Cotabato, the cool greens of Baguio, and the rising fairways of Cebu.

These regions aren’t just producing talent — they’re setting the pace.

In the end, the JGFP Interclub didn’t just crown champions. It unveiled a new era in junior golf — one where passion, opportunity, and provincial pride are rewriting the leaderboard, one round at a time.