Youngsters take spotlight as JPGT finals unwrap

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty-one youngsters from four age-group categories ranging from 9-10 to 15-18 set out for a day-long battle of talent and skills in fun atmosphere with accent on the knack to withstand the challenges at The Country Club in Laguna.

The ICTSI Junior PGT Series winds up its inaugural season today at the TCC where the talent-search was launched last January with eight titles in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions to be disputed over 18 holes of stroke play under the Modified Stableford (Molave) scoring system.

Zachary Villaroman and Korean Ji Won Lee headline the 15-18 age division after both emerged No. 1 following the five-round elims phase played under the drive, chip and putt (DCP) challenge and 18-hole competitions at some of the country’s championship courses.

But more than the bragging rights as the first champions of the pioneering series put up by ICTSI, the finalists, including 19 hopefuls from the JPGT VisMin Series, are already deemed winners just being able to compete and experience playing in the series which recognizes and nurtures young talents and develops their characters.

“I’d like to thank ICTSI and its staff for the experience I gained in the series. It’s very challenging. I have no expectations to emerge as overall champion. I only need to stay focused on every game and round,” said girls’ 9-10 class elims topnotcher Quincy Pilac in Filipino.

“For the finals, I worked on my short game, especially putting.”