MANILA, Philippines - Ken Shibata of Manila Japanese School emerged the highest scorer with his 155 points that also won him the boys Class D plum in the recent opening leg of the ICTSI-JGFP School Season series held in various courses.
Shibata, a fourth grader at MJS and a former Junior World age-group champion, posted rounds of 49, 53 and 53 for that 155 total and a nine-point win over Miguel Roque in the best three out of six rounds series played at Southlinks, Capitol Hills, Philippine Navy and Ayala Greenfield.
He led the boys division winners that also included Korean teener Wang Jeon Jae (Class A), Christopher Popp (Class B), Josh Jorge (Class C), Vince Tiamsic (Class E) and Rocco Pineda (Class F).
Annika Cedo, meanwhile, was the top points getter among the girls winners as Class A winner in the tourney backed chiefly by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation and jointly organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines and The Junior Golfers League.
The other girls winners of the series which has Philippine Golf Foundation, Martin Lorenzo, Golf Depot and Inquirer Golf as other sponsors are Tomi Arejola in Class B, Sam Dizon in Class C, Theresa dela Paz in Class D, Bianca Macatangay in Class E and Venice Tiamsic in Class F.
Popp (141) barely edged Joaquin Gomez (140), Jorge (154) finished 10 point ahead of Sean Ramos, Tiamsic (138) finished 8 up on Santino Pineda and Rocco Pineda (66) beat Julian Lhuiler by seven.
Cedo (145) finished far ahead of Louise Tombs (126), Arejola (126) nipped Mariel Tee (123) in a close fight, Dizon (125) prevailed over Annika Tan (108), Macatangay (51) defeated Kira Hedeager (28) and Venice Tiamsic (75) wound up with a commanding lead over Stevie Umali (58).
In the tournament’s most exciting finish, Dela Paz and Princess Pascua ended in a tie at 104 but Dela Paz prevailed in the countback.
Next up for the jungolfers is the ICTSI-JGFP Baguio Jungolf Open on March 30-31 at the Baguio Country Club which serves as the kickoff leg of the summer circuit.