The Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) resumes next week with Leg 3 of the Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao series, set to take place at John Hay in Baguio and Del Monte in Bukidnon. This pivotal stage brings together early standouts and emerging talents in a critical race for top honors and valuable Elite Junior Finals points.
Boys' 7-10 Division: A Marquee Matchup
A highly anticipated clash is brewing in the boys' 7-10 division of the Luzon swing, where early leg winners Kenzo Tan and Zach Guico are poised to compete. Tan dominated the opener at Mount Malarayat, while Guico delivered a commanding performance at Summit Point. Although Tan missed the second leg due to prior commitments, his return for the third stop of the six-leg regional series sets the stage for an exciting duel, with Guico eager to sustain his winning momentum after a convincing victory over Zoji Edoc.
Edoc remains a strong contender and is determined to disrupt the anticipated Tan-Guico showdown. Other players in the mix include Alexian Ching, Joaquin Magtalas, Matteo Muyot, and Baguio standouts Gabrial A-Ayo and Michael Lim.
Tournament Schedule and Format
The ICTSI John Hay JPGT Junior Championship tees off on April 28, followed by the ICTSI Del Monte JPGT Junior Championship starting on April 29. The 7-10 and 11-14 divisions will be contested over 36 holes, while the premier 15-18 category will play 54 holes.
Each regional series comprises six tournaments, with players earning points based on their finishes. Only the best three results will count toward the final standings. To qualify for the North vs South Elite Junior Finals, players must compete in at least three events. The top four in each division from both series will advance to the Ryder Cup-style championship at The Country Club in September.
Girls' 7-10 Division: Serapio Seeks Redemption
In the girls' 7-10 division, Winter Serapio aims for redemption after winning at Mount Malarayat but losing to Andrea Dee at Summit Point. With Dee skipping the John Hay leg, Serapio enters as the player to beat. However, she faces stiff competition from Tyly Bernardino and local bets Amiya Tablac, Rosalina Mamauag, and Ava Laranang, all of whom are familiar with the challenging, undulating par-69 layout.
Girls' 11-14 Category: Dungca Moves Up
Attention also shifts to the girls' 11-14 category, where Ronee Dungca begins her campaign in a higher division after a dominant run in the 7-10 class last year, winning all three of her starts and playing a key role in Team North's victory in the Elite Junior Finals. Dungca faces a tough field that includes Summit Point runner-up Mavis Espedido, Kelsey Bernardino, Tyra Garingalao, and Baguio standouts Skye Robles and Zoey Laranang.
Boys' 11-14 Division: Sarines Leads
In the boys' 11-14 division, Vito Sarines looks to build on his dramatic comeback victory over Chan Ahn at Summit Point. He headlines a competitive field that includes Race Manhit, Javier Bautista, and local contenders Miguel Orbita, Hoonmin Park, and Sevros Dionisio. Also expected to challenge are Jose Luis Espinosa and Antonio Cruz.
Girls' 15-18 Division: Sarines Sisters Return
Siblings Lisa and Mona Sarines return from competing in the Royal Junior tournament in Japan and are tipped to contend for the girls' 15-18 crown. They will be joined by Levonne Talion, Kendra Garingalao, and Benguet's Zyrah de Leon.
Boys' Premier 15-18 Division: Serdenia Debuts
In the boys' premier 15-18 division, Charles Serdenia makes his first JPGT appearance this year and leads a deep field that includes Santi Asuncion, Geoffrey Tan, Tristan Padilla, and Baguio standouts Xian Robles, Sean Torrefiel, Raiden Tablac, and Renzo Sagsago.
