Dy claims big jungolf surprise

MANILA, Philippines - Jed Dy pulled off a big surprise on a day when most of the favorites stamped their class in their respective divisions at the start of the school season series of the ICTSI Junior Golf Circuit over the weekend.

At the Riviera Sports Club course in Silang, Cavite, Dy came through with a 60 for a seven-stroke lead in boys’ Class F (6 years and under). Bernice Olivarez-Ilas posted the biggest lead among the frontrunners of 14 strokes with her 59 in girls’ Class E (7-8) while Philippe Winsett-Palanca was on top in the boys side with a 62.

In the biggest gathering of junior golfers in the school season, veteran internationalists Miguel Tabuena (76-boys Class A), Rupert Zaragosa (79-boys Class C), Marvi Monsalve (79-girls Class A), Princess Superal (80-girls Class B) and Mia Legaspi (84-girls Class C) all emerged on top at the Tat Filipinas course in San Pedro, Laguna.

Alexes Nallos also showed impressive form in shooting a six-under-par 66 in the newly-added special division for junior golf graduates 18-21 years.

The tourney, organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippine, marked the start of the national junior golf rankings where kids accumulate points per event which will also serve as basis for their selection to teams competing abroad. ICTSI is providing the major backing to the revitalized program with the support of Philippine Airlines, McDonald’s, Smart, Golf Depot, Coca Cola, Pioneer Insurance.

The other leaders were Ryu Yasuma (77) in boys Class B, Kristoffer Arevalo (81) in boys Class D, Sun Choi (85) in girls Class D and Annika Castro (82) in girls Class F.