JUNIOR Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) chairman Tommy Manotoc commended the performances of young golfers and the efforts of officials in staging the return of the Inter-School tournament.

Xavier School won the overall championship after the final round at Mimosa Plus after earlier rounds at Eagle Ridge, Riviera and Intramuros.

The tournament was held for the first time after cancellation of events the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by our junior golfers. Congratulations to them, good job. Also the hardworking men and women of the JGFP, they really did a very good job,” said Manotoc, a former player and coach of the national golf team.

De La Salle Zobel ruled the Senior High division of the JGFP Inter-School tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission as the team of Zachary Castro, Tae Won Kim, Zhan Pocholo Medina, Santino Magtalas and Rafa Ilas combined for a five-round total of 424 points, besting Xavier School, which ended with 416 points.

Ateneo placed third with 371 points.

De La Salle Zobel also took the Junior High title as the team of Tristan Padilla, Rafa Leonio, Gab Handog, Joachim Cadena and Stephon Lizardo finished with 394 points.

Xavier finished second with 347 points and International School Manila third with 288 points.

Race Manhit, John Majgen Luis Gomez, Javier Stefano Bautista and Juanton Cruz won the Middle School title for Ateneo with 322 points, while Kenzo Tan, Kenji Yamada, Scott Dee, Jesus Yambao and Matteo Yazon bagged the Lower School plum for Xavier.

Nicole Gaisano-Gan led Immaculate Conception Academy, to the overall title in the developmental league after dominating the Senior High and Lower School divisions of the event backed by Islandwide Distribution Corp., Acro City Residences, Personal Collection, Filinvest Tiezza, Mt. Fuji, Cafe de Margaux, Jenny Bucay and Sky Flakes.

Prior to the final round, Manotoc, JGFP president Oliver Gan and Mimosa Plus General Manager Michael Gapin and golf director Rory Young signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide support to the JGFP members.

The JGFP is going nationwide by holding tournaments in the province starting in Mindanao with a competition in Davao Apo from Jan. 5 to 8, CDO Pueblo on Jan. 28 and 29 and in Del Monte on Feb. 4 and 5.

“As part now of the program of the JGFP, we will go nationwide, and we’ll start our grassroots program simultaneously with the programs of our chairman Tommy Manotoc in Zamboanga,” said Gan.