Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) president Oliver Gan with some members of the Filipino delegation.
Photo courtesy of JGFP
Malixi, Gan sisters vying in IMG World Golf meet
THE best and the brightest junior golfers, led by Southeast Asian Games veteran Rianne Malixi and Jaden Dumdumaya, will banner the Philippines’ campaign in the 2023 IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships on July 11-14 at Torrey Pines.
Malixi, a member of the national women’s golf team, is fresh from an impressive stint in the US Women’s Amateur (USWA) Qualifying Tournament at the Soule Park Golf Course in Ojai, California last Monday.
Dumdumaya, on the other hand, will leadthe Filipino delegation in the boys 15-18 division
“We feel that with the roster we have right now, we have a very good chance of winning,” said Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) president Oliver Gan.
“We know that it’s not going to be easy because the level of competition is very high but we know our players are at par in terms of skills and talent, and they are prepared for the event,” added Gan, a former golf consultant at the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) under former chairman Baham Mitra.
Gan also appointed former jungolf champion and Philippine Open winner Artemio Murakami as head coach.
The 16-year-old Malixi will be joined in the 15-18 girls category by Monique Arroyo, Reese Ng, Allethea Gaccion, Grace Quintanilla and Anya Cedo.
Also in the said category are Bobe Salahog, Santino Pineda, Jacob Cajita and Zachary Castro.
In the 13-14 category, the country will be represented by Geoffrey Tan, Tristan Jefferson Padilla, Patrick Tambalque and Rafael Leonio in the boys, while in the girls are Celine Abalos, Alessandra
Luciano, Tashanah Balangauan and Isabella Tabanas.
In the 11-12 boys are Ralph Rian Batican, Zianbeau Edoc, David Teves, Anton Zingapan and Mico Ungco, while in the 11-12 girls are Nicole Gan, Lisa Sarines, Precious Zaragosa, Brittany Tamayo and Mona Sarines.
The rest of the Filipino contingent are Vito Sarines, Race Phoenix Manhit, Chan Ahn, Jared Saban (9-10 boys), Cailey Chanelle Gonzales, Janae Galo, Aerin Chan, Rafella Adrienne Batican (9-10 girls), Alonzo Retuerto, Scott Dee, Kenji Yamada (7-8 boys), Kami Del Mundo, Brie Macasaet, Eliana Mendoza (7-8 girls), Kenzo Tan, Zoji Edoc, Lucas De Guzman (6-under boys), Stephanie Gan and Winter Serapio (6-under girls).
The annual IMG meet will have the 6-under and 7-8 boys and girls divisions play at the Singing Hills Pine Glenn and Pine Oak courses at Sycuan Resort on July 11-13 in El Cajon, California.
The 11-12 divisions will be played at Heights Golf Course in San Diego, the 13-14 groups are set at Rancho Bernardo Heights also on July 11-13.
