Batican Cagayan de Oro’s Ralph Rian Batican leads the winners along with Davao leg champions Nicole and Stephanie Gan, Lucas de Guzman, and Brianna Macasaet in the JGFP Pueblo de Oro Junior Open.

Hometown hero Batican shines

February 8, 2023 Ed Andaya 306 views

THE Pueblo de Oro Junior Open golf championships organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) turned out to be another major success with hometown hero Ralph Rian Batican and Davao leg champions Nicole and Stephanie Gan, Lucas de Guzman and Brianna Macasaet sharing the limelight.

Batican submitted a five-under par 67 in the final round, one stroke better than his opening round of 68 for a two-day total of 135 to win the 9-10 boys category by 18 strokes.

Davao champion Jared Saban finished with 153 after rounds of 76 and 77.

A veteran of the 2022 IMG Academy Junior World Championships in the United States, the 10-year-old Batican capped his final round with six birdies, on 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 and an eagle on 12.

Batican, a Grade 5 student at Little Me Academy home school, bogeyed on 4 and a double bogey on 18.

…“I’m very happy to win. It was tough but I’m very happy with my game,” said Batican, who credited Filipino golf legend Frankie Minoza with the refinement of his overall game

This CdO leg of the Mindanao meet was Batican’s sixth in his young career.

Batican was also accompanied by his parents Marian and Ralph and coach Noel Langamin.

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