MANILA, Philippines - The Pancake House Junior World Qualifying tournament will be held at three different golf courses starting tomorrow as organizers decided to simulate playing conditions in the international finals this coming July in San Diego, California.
Playing at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods are the entries in Class A (15-17 years), Class B (13-14 years) and C (11-12) for boys and girls and those in Class D (9-10) at the up-and-down Capitol Hills executive layout in Diliman, Quezon City.
The Class E (7-8 years) and Class F (6 years and under) competitions of the national qualifier, which serves part of the ICTSI-JGFP summer circuit, will be hosted by The Riviera Sports Club in Silang, Cavite from April 20-22.
A total of 190 players – one of the biggest fields in the history of the Junior World qualifying – registered, all vying for spots in the national delegation to the Callaway Junior World championships on July 16-19.
The Pancake House Junior World qualifying is also sponsored by ICTSI, Philippine Golf Foundation (PGF), Philippine Airlines, Golf Depot, Sizzlin Pepper’, McDonald’s, Duty Free Phils, Teriyaki Boy, Fila and Inquirer Golf.
To be disputed are four slots each in the boys and girls divisions of Class A and Class B, three each in Classes B, C and D, three boys and two girls in Class E and three boys and a girl in Class F.
Francesca Bernice Olivarez Ilas and Jed Dy, who produced victories for the Philippines last year, are already seeded but will still compete just the same.
Among those expected to contend are former world champions Rupert Zaragosa and Miya Legaspi, Miggy Yee, Princess Superal, Javi Lazatin, Kristoffer Arevalo, Anya Cedo and Burberry Zhang.
“The playing conditions will be very tough I believe but the desire to make it to the team will drive the kids to give their best,†said Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.
The Pancake House Junior World qualifier is one of the major events in a hectic summer calendar that will see local kids playing practically every week.
For pairings and tee times log on to www.juniorgolfphilippines.com.