Filipino bets start quest in Callaway Junior World

SAN DIEGO – Forty-two Filipino bets open their respective bids in 11 different courses here Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), each bracing for a challenging week against a field toughened up by the arrival of well-trained talents from mainland China in the Callaway Junior World golf tournament.

Part of an international cast that has grown to 1,100 players from 54 countries and 42 states of the host country, the Philippine bets supported by Philippine Airlines and the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. will be going for the 12 division titles for boys and girls to be disputed over 54 holes except in the 15-17 years which slated for 72 holes.

Two of the team’s strongest bets should be Jed Dy in the 7-8 years and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas in the girls 9-10. They are both coming off impressive wins in the San Diego Junior Masters over the weekend although the field in the Junior World is far stronger.

Mia Legaspi, Princess Superal and the other players flown into California for free by the country’s flag-carrier Philippine Airlines as champions in their respective divisions during the national qualifying last May at Manila Southwoods are also tipped to perform well against the international challengers.

The others are Raymart Tolentino in the 13-14 years group; Christopher Popp and Harmie Constantino in the 11-12 years, Josh Jorge and Bernice Ilas in the 9-10 years, Arnie Taguines in the 7-8 years and Jose Javier Lazatin and Angela Arevalo in the 6 and under class.

“We have better chances in the lower age-groups but those in the 15-17 and 13-14 may just pull a surprise. We’re hoping for the best,” said Luigi Tabuena, president of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines and head of the Philippine delegation.

The Philippine delegation:

Class A (Torrey Pines South/North): Boys – Gio Gandionco, Santiago Lorenzo, LJ Go, Jama Reyes, Justin Quiban; Girls – Princess Superal, Andie Unson, Marvi Monsalve, Felicia Medalla

Class B (Morgan Run/Rancho Bernardo): Boys – Raymart Tolentino, Kristoffer Arevalo, Gabe Manotoc, Lanz Uy; Girls – Mia Legaspi,  Rachita Vasandani, LK Go, Abby Arevalo; Sam Martirez

Class C (Sycuan/Rancho Bernardo Inn): Boys – Christopher Popp, Aidric Chan, Wei Wei Gao,  Luis Miguel Castro; Girls – Harmie Constantino, Mikha Fortuna, Sam Bruce

Class D (Welk Resort/Lomas Santa Fe): Boys – Carl Corpus, Jolo Magcalayo, Wei Yu Gao; Girls – Wei Fung Gao, Sofia Legaspi

Class E (Oaks North/Sycuan Resort): Boys – Jed Dy, Miguel Ilas, Leandro Bagtas, Maio Castaneda; Girls – Arnie Taguines, Eagle Ace Superal, Burberry Zhang

Class F (Colina Park): Boys – Jose Javier Lazatin, Rafael Olivarez-Ilas: Girls – Angela Arevalo