Bernardino leads chase in JPGT Iloilo

ILOILO, Philippines — Young golfers from Iloilo City and surrounding areas are set to showcase their talents as they begin their campaigns in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Visayas Series I, which kicks off today at the Iloilo Golf Club here.

Tiffany Bernardino is one of the standout players expected to deliver a strong performance. However, she faces a tough three-day competition in the girls’ 13-15 division against talented players like Alexie Gabi, Zoie Bagaloyos, and Rane Chiu. This division is one of four categories featured in the second regional swing of the nationwide series, established by ICTSI to elevate junior golf in Visayas and Mindanao, providing young players with valuable competitive experience.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has adjusted the competition format to level the playing field across the 14-leg, five-month-long nationwide circuit. There are now four age categories: 8-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18, following a three-division tournament structure in the first part of the Luzon Series. Titles and rankings will be contested in each category.

“I am excited to play at Iloilo’s historic golf course. My focus will be hitting the fairways and making the greens in regulations. I need to trust my game and play as best as I can. Hopefully, I’ll be able to figure how to conquer the long fairways,” said Bernardino, 13.

Players earn points based on their performance in each tournament, with no limit on the number of events they can enter in a series. However, only their best results will count towards the final rankings for the 72 spots in the JPGT Match Play Championships at The Country Club in Laguna in October.

For the Luzon Series, the best four results will count, while the best two results will matter for the Visayas and Mindanao Series. Players competing in multiple series will have their best three results considered.