Fielding key as best ball matches open Elite Finals action at The Country Club
Two four-ball (best ball) matches from each division make up Day 1 of the ICTSI Elite Junior Finals, and fielding and team chemistry will be keys as the North battles South in a Ryder Cup-type of event that puts a fitting end to the JPGT season at windswept The Country Club in Laguna.
Stalwarts from the boys’ 7-10 division tee off from No. 1, while the girls’ open play at the 10th of the ultra-exclusive layout that remains to be one of the toughest tests of golf in the country.
There are only four members per team from each age-bracket, but captains will have to find the right blend of who to pair with whom as the first to 24.5 points wins the tournament.
After the first four groups, the boys’ and girls’ 11-14 and then the centerpiece 15-18 divisions tee off. Day 2 will be an alternate shot before the highly anticipated singles are held on Friday.
This event is a far departure from the usual junior championships that have been held, as only 48 of the best and brightest of the season will be teeing it up.
Bannering Team North are boys’ 15-18 standouts Patrick Tambalque and Zachary Villaroman; boys’ 11-14 contenders Zianbeau Edoc and Ryuji Suzuki; and 7-10 aces Zoji Edoc and Zach Guico. The South squad will lean on the likes of Alexis Nailga and Luciano Copok (15-18); Ralph Batican and Ken Guillermo (11-14); and Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo (7-10).
There will be 48 total points up for grabs, and in the event of a 24-24 tie at the end of the Friday session, the champion will be determined by a blind draw from which age-group a sudden-death playoff will come from, with the squads then naming one player each.
The Finals serves as a formidable training ground for future stars of Philippine golf. Created by ICTSI in 2023, the JPGT is designed to build the complete golfer through a mix of stroke play, match play, and skills-based events.
There is also the newly launched ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour that aims to further strengthen the development pathway of the student-athlete by giving them a structured bridge to the professional game.
With two high-stakes matches scheduled in each of the three age categories (7-10, 11-14 and 15-18), the stage is set for an intense, drama-filled opener that could dictate the tone for the rest of this unprecedented Ryder Cup-style showdown.
