MANILA, Philippines - Raymart Tolentino, Nikolo Gatmaytan and Sofia Chabon claimed their expected spots in the Philippine Golf Foundation Junior Masters national finals when they topped their respective divisions in the Southern Luzon eliminations recently at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas.
Tolentino ruled the boys 15-17 years with rounds of 75-73 for 148, Gatmaytan prevailed in the boys 13-14 years (71-75-146) while Chabon won the girls 13-14 years (77-75-152).
The three led the last batch of 16 qualifiers for the national finals on May 28-30 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club.
The grand finals of the Junior Masters Series, PGF’s commitment to nationwide talent development in collaboration with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, will feature a select 64-player field including the survivors of the three other regional qualifiers.
Also making it from the Mt. Malarayat qualifier were Dan Cruz, Ira Alido, Carl Corpus, Josh Jorge, Sean Jean Ramos and Marc Gareth Nolasco in the boys events. Aside from Chabon, the girls qualifiers were Abby Arevalo, Chanelle Avaricio, Sam Green, Jamina Uttoh Laia Barro, Burberry Zhang and Laurea Duque.
Daniella Uy (girls 15-17), Jolo Magcalayo (boys11-12), Sean Granada (boys 9-10) emerged champions but since they already qualified in the Baguio-Northern Luzon leg, another player took their place.
Tolentino also ended in a tie for the top spot with Lanz Uy who had booked his ticket in Baguio, clearing the way for No. 3 Dan Emilio Cruz to move up, Arevalo and Avaricio figured in a three-way tie with Martirez for the two slots in girls 15-17 years.