Phl bets ready for Montecillo Cup jungolf mission

MANILA, Philippines - The caliber of local junior players will be put to a big test when they compete against the best in the region with former national amateur champ Clyde Mondilla and the multi-titled Mia Legaspi bannering the Philippine campaign in the second Montecillo Cup junior golf championship starting Tuesday at the Palmer course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Despite the last minute withdrawal of former Junior World champion Rupert Zaragosa, the Phl bid remains solid with Legaspi, who made history by completing a grand slam of all five divisions in the US Kids world championships in Pinehurst and topped her age-group in the Optimist International in Florida, and Mondilla, who is playing his final season in the junior ranks.

Zaragosa got involved in a freak accident at his Canlubang home club and was asked to rest for at least a month, leaving Mondilla and the other teammates like Gio Gandionco, a vital cog in Cebu Country Club’s capture of the PAL Interclub recently in Davao, and Raymart Tolentino to carry the fight for Team Philippines.

Luigi Tabuena, president of the organizing Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, believes that the top guns of the team couldn’t be more prepared as they are all coming off big tournament exposures with the other members of the girls team for instance needing to prepare for the 50th Philippine Ladies Open at Wack Wack east.

Joining Legaspi in the Phl bid for the girls team and individual titles are Andie Unson, Sarah  Ababa, Princess Superal, Sam Martinez and Bianca Pagdanganan.

Thailand, the Republic of China, Guam, Singapore and Indonesia are all sending their top juniors to the tourney sponsored by ICTSI, Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Pepper, PAL, Duty Free, McDonald’s Pioneer Insurance, PacSports, B Hotel, Pisanti, Inquirer Golf and Julie’s Bakeshop.

Thailand swept both the team awards while the Philippines took the individual titles through Jobim Carlos and Unson in last year’s event at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas.

Format changes this time will feature four age-group competitions with the Class A and Class B for 72 holes and Class C and Class D for 54 holes. JGFP, however, decided to impose handicap limits for all classes.