PSA to honor outstanding junior golfers

In recognition of their outstanding exploits in the international arena, Jayvie Agojo and three other jungolfers will be awarded citations by the Philippine Sportswriters Association during its Annual Awards Ceremony on Jan. 9 at the Holiday Inn-Manila Pavilion.

The 17-year-old Agojo notched three big victories in her busy US campaign this year, topped by her rain-shortened win in the Optimist International at the PGA National course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Also, the OB Montessori-Greenhills senior captured an unprecedented fourth straight championship in the Temecula International Junior Open and topped the San Francisco State junior tournament.

Dottie Ardina, AR Ramos and Miguel Tabuena will also receive citations for doing the country proud in highly competitive events in the US.

Ramos, a grade-schooler at La Salle-Greenhills, is the youngest of the four awardees at 7 years old. He captured the 7-years-old and below division title during the US Kids world championship held in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Ardina, daughter of a teaching pro from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, lost her bid for a second consecutive victory in the Junior World in San Diego but prevailed in the Desert Classic Championships in Palm Springs, California.

It was in the same event where the eight-year-old Tabuena, called the Filipino Tiger Woods by President Arroyo, a month after posting his breakthrough victory in the US by topping the Selma Valley Juniors.

The four jungolfers provided the highlights to another big year for the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines headed by Gerry Handog, which scored no less than a dozen international victories in 2003.

They will join a long list of honorees led by co-athletes of the year boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and bowling hero CJ Suarez in the affair the First Couple are expected to attend.