VINH PHUC, Vietnam. – All eyes will be on young sensation Rianne Malixi and the other members of the national women’s golf squad that tees off Friday at the Heron Lake Course here, well-armed in their bid to retain the team and individual crowns in the 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.
Malixi, the 15-year-old spearhead of Team ICTSI, is thrilled more than anxious playing in what she considers as her biggest tournament so far, geared up to slug it out with the likes of Thais Narkitta Wongthaveelap, a three-time Thai LPGA Tour winner; Pimkwan Chukaew, a King Rama VII Cup titlist; and fellow 15-year-old Ella Galitsky for the coveted gold.
Lois Kaye Go, a member of the 2019 gold medal winning squad, and Mafy Singson complete the women’s team billed as one of the teams to beat. Gone from the squad are Bianca Pagdanganan, who bagged the individual golf in 2019, and Abby Arevalo.
Carrying the cudgels for the men’s squad, which is out to improve on the bronze medal finish of another squad in the Philippine SEA Games, are Jet Hernandez, Jed Dy, Kristoffer Arevalo and Gab Manotoc, who are all primed-up for a face-off with the fancied Thai squad led by the celebrated Ratchanon Chantananuwat, who at 15 became the youngest winner on the Asian Tour when he topped the inaugural Asian Mixed Cup in Siam last month.
“We believe all are motivated intrinsically by being their best versions. This in itself is the challenge we have given them — to be better every day, in all aspects both on and off the course,” said Miko Alejandro, coach of the national women’s squad.
“I think it’s not necessarily pressure but more inspiration to the players. We use these stories to remind us we are capable. We understand that this is a brand-new opportunity to win gold medals for the country,” Alejandro added.
