Future stars play in Young Guns

The future stars of Philippine golf assemble at the world-class Manila Southwoods today to vie for honors in the second Young Guns at the Legends, a tournament specially-designed for kids 12 years and below. Tee-off time is 7:30 a.m.

Most of the year’s standouts in the jungolf ranks are in the roster of 80 players who will dispute the top awards in six age-classifications.

To be contested are the top three places in the following divisions: boys 7 years and under, 8 years, 9 years, 10 years, 11 years and 12 years and girls 8-under, 9 years, 10 years, 11 years and 12 years. Those in the 8 years and below age-group will play just nine holes while the rest will play for 18 holes.

The Young Guns format is patterned after the US Kids world championship in Virginia where six-year-old AR Ramos emerged victorious last August.

Aside from Ramos, Filipino kids who have brought home international victories are also seeing action. They are Desert Classic champions Wolen Juan Superal and Miguel Tabuena, Sarawak Chief Ministers Cup winner Ma-an Legaspi and Andie Unson, the best local finisher of the RP contingent in last July’s Junior World in San Diego.

Trophies and prizes are provided by tournament sponsors Smart, Bellevue, Price Smart, Duty Free Phils., Marvin Sports Plaza, Nestle, Gatorade, International Container Terminal Services Inc., SharExchange and Golf Depot. Smart phones and golf equipment will also be raffled off.

Luigi Tabuena, the tournament director, said that the tourney aims to expose local jungolfers to the kind of format they play abroad especially in the United States aside from encouraging more young kids to keep improving their games.

Aside from the Young Guns at Southwoods, other events jungolfers are set to play during the holiday break are the Nike Jungolf Christmas Tournament at Riviera and the Nike Visayas tourney at the Cebu Country Club which will be held on the same day, Monday Dec. 22, the Alabang Invitational on Dec. 23 and the Japan-Philippines Friendship Meet early next year at the Tagaytay Midlands course.