SILANG, Cavite. — Zoji Edoc sets his sights on nothing less than a victory as the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series resumes Tuesday, with the Riviera JPGT Championship at the Couples course of the Riviera Golf Club, Inc. here.
With the stakes rising and the Finals drawing closer, Edoc hopes to ride the momentum of his strong third-place finish at the Junior World in San Diego. He is keen to put his refined game to the test as he seeks not just a second leg win in the boys’ 7-10 age division but also to formalize his berth in the elite ICTSI Junior PGT Finals slated for Oct. 7 to 10 at The Country Club in Laguna.
Already a winner in the Sherwood Hills leg, the Taytay-born prodigy currently has 39 points in the standings, bolstered by runner-up finishes at Eagle Ridge and Splendido Taal. Another win this week in the 36-hole tournament would all but guarantee him a spot among the Luzon representatives who will square off against their Visayas-Mindanao counterparts in the Ryder Cup-style championship.
The young ace, however, faces tough competition from a stacked field of contenders, including Asher Abad, Halo Pangilinan, Alexian Ching, Paul Yambao, James Padron, Jethro Bayron, Matteo dela Cruz, Samuel Ababa, Andre Muyot and Giulio Ballado – all determined to go all out in a bid to climb the ranks and gain ground on the tightly packed leaderboard.
In the girls’ 7-10 division, the intensity is just as high, with Penelope Sy (30 points) and Tyra Garingalao (28) seeking to solidify their places inside the Top 4. But they will need to fend off a strong challenge from Bulacan’s Venus delos Santos, who lurks dangerously in fifth with 24 points and is poised to make a late surge in the race for Finals qualification in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
With Mavis Espedido (45) and Athena Serapio (37) virtually securing the top two spots, the battle for the remaining berths is shaping up to be a dramatic, wide-open race in this fifth leg of the seven-stage regional series, which has drawn a strong 77-player field across three age categories.
Meanwhile, fireworks are expected in the boys’ 11-14 division, also set over 36 holes, where the leaderboard is as volatile as ever. Ryuji Suzuki (42) and Vito Sarines (39), who are skipping this leg, currently lead the pack, but Jacob Casuga, sitting in third with 35 points, is gunning for a breakthrough win to cement his Finals spot.
Race Manhit (18), at fifth place, is also in must-win mode as he aims to crash the top four, especially with No. 4 Ryuichi Tao (36) skipping this leg. A victory here could breathe new life into Manhit’s Finals hopes, as well as open the door for other dark horses still mathematically in contention.
In the girls’ 11-14 bracket, the Sarines twins, Lisa and Mona, have practically booked their tickets to the Finals with 42 points apiece but are still seeing action this week. But the duel for the third and fourth slots remains intense. Kendra Garingalao, with 30 points, leads the chasing pack, with every stroke this week potentially making the difference as the series nears its conclusion.
Also in the roster are Alexie Gabi, Kelly Ng, Mena Dimaunahan, Marqaela Dy, Kay Mauricio, Arielle Espartero, Reign Waterman, Althea Bañez, Giulian Ballado and Annika Abad.
The girls’ 15-18 division, though already headlined by Rafa Anciano’s triple-win 45-point effort, remains far from a walkover. With Levonne Talion (39) comfortably at No. 2, the battle for the next spots has heated up in the 54-hole competition organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Chole Rada (20), Tiffany Bernardino (18) and Angelica Bañez (12) are all going full throttle in their bid to collect crucial ranking points, along with Ayesha Salino, Sasha Buendia nd Gabriela Sison.
The boys’ 15-18 category also sets the stage for a thrilling encounter, featuring a stellar cast led by top contenders Zachary Villaroman (32), Patrick Tambalque (30), Shinichi Suzuki (27), who are expected to engage in a head-to-head clash for the division lead.
The three have played consistent golf throughout the ICTSI-sponsored series, and a win here could provide the crucial cushion ahead of the final two legs. However, Jose Carlos Taruc (18), Bien Fajardo (12), and Kristoffer Nadales (12) are lurking within striking distance, ready to pounce on any opening to keep their Finals dreams alive.
Others seeking to stir up play are Ramon Fabie, Rafael Mañaol, Santino Pineda, Francis Slavin, Alonso Espartero, Kyle Ng and Scott Ng.
The top four players in each category after seven legs will advance to the October Finals, ensuring that every round, every hole and every shot at Riviera counts.
