Junior golfers gear up for ICTSI Luzon Series 6 in Batangas

MANILA – Intense competition is expected in the JPGT Luzon Series 6 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas on Sept. 2 as junior golfers across four age divisions in both the boys' and girls' categories eye top honors and valuable ranking points to qualify for the Match Play Championship.

Winners from last week's Series 5 at Luisita will also join the penultimate leg of the seven-leg series, seeking repeat victories and strengthening their campaign for a slot in the national finals set on Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna.

They are Isonn Angheng and Venus delos Santos (boys and girls 8-9), Aerin Chan (girls' 10-12), Jose Carlos Taruc and Precious Zaragosa (13-15) and Mark Kobayashi and Lia Duque (16-18).

Vito Sarines, competing in the boys' 10-12 category has already qualified for the Match Play finals, with a perfect score of 60 points from four leg victories.

In the Luzon series, only the top four performances will count towards qualifying for the finals, which will also feature the top two players from each division of the Visayas and Mindanao series.

The top-ranked player from each category who has participated in at least three series will advance to the nationwide finals.

The final leg of the Luzon series is on Sept. 10-13 at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.

In the girls' 13-15 division, twin sisters Lisa and Mona Sarines are locked in a tight race with last week's winner Precious Zaragosa.

Lisa leads with 50 points, followed by Mona with 48 points, and Zaragosa with 46 points from two victories. Levonne Talion, who skipped the Luisita leg, is fourth with 43 points, while Montserrat Lapuz was fifth at Luisita for 36 points.

Meanwhile, Aerin Chan is seeking a third title in the girls' 10-12 category.

Georgina Handog leads with 45 points, followed by Maurysse Abalos (43) and Chan (42). Casedy Cuenca and Quincy Pilac are tied for fourth with 26 points, while Althea Bañez has 24 points. (PNA)