Hoey leads Phl bid in world jungolf

MANILA, Philippines - Two weeks after helping the Philippines end a long victory drought in the Putra Cup, Rico Hoey seeks another milestone as he goes for a title repeat in the premier 15-17 category of the 2013 Junior World Golf Championships beginning Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) at various layouts in San Diego, California.

Princess Superal, Sam Bruce and Sophia Ysabel Blanco, Phl jungolfers who copped first place honors in the just-concluded San Diego Junior Masters, are among the top bets of the 30-strong Phl contingent in the 46th edition of the world’s largest international golfest that has produced, among others, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Corey Pavin and Phil Mickelson.

The Philippines boasts of a good winning world jungolf tradition, and Hoey and company are determined to keep the Phl flag soaring in the blue-ribbon event participated in by jungolfers from 56 countries.

Last year, the Philippines topped three of 12 events courtesy of Hoey (boys’ 15-17), Jed Dy (boys’ 7-8) and Francesca Bernice Olivarez-Ilas (girls’ 9-10).

Hoey tries to duplicate Carito Villaroman’s back-to-back title conquests in the premier class in 1985 and 1986 while Dy and Olivarez-Ilaz go for another crown in the higher age category.

The Rancho Cucamonga, California-based Fil-Am has earlier ruled the 11-12 group. Other Filipinos who had topped more than one world jungolf categories were Villaroman (13-14 and 15-17), Dorothy Delasin (13-14 and 15-17), Dottie Ardina (8-under, 11-12 and 13-14), Cosco Oben (9-10 and 11-12) and Ramon Brobio (9-10 and 11-12).

Other former Filipino champs are Rupert Zaragosa, Cyna Marie Rodriguez, Clare Amelia Legaspi, Raymund Gonzales, Wolen Superal, Aileen Yao, Jennifer Rosales, Juami Rocha, Carmelette Villaroman and Tom Concon.

Also trying to make their mark this year are Gabriel Manotoc, Pauline del Rosario, Raymart Tolentino, Lou Daniella Uy, Allenby Jiro Ramos, Bianca Pagdanganan, Ira Christian Alido, Abegail Arevalo, Kristoffer Arevalo, Chanelle Aviricio, Laia Simon Barro, Luis Miguel Castro, Annika Cedo, Anya Cedo, Sofia Chabon, Aidric Jose Chan, Andrew Josh Chua, Harmie Nicole Constantino, Marc Elson Corrales, Mikhaella Fortuna, Weiwei Gao, Lois Kaye Go, San Dominique Granada, Jaco Riggs Illescas, John Lester Lagman, Francis Andre Lanuza, Jolo Timothy Magcalayo, Felicia Paulina Medalla, Ryan Monsalve, Rafael Olivarez-Ilas, Miguel Sebastian Roque, Jose Emmanuel Sajulga, Vince Jacob Tiamsic and Lanz William Uy.