By: Waylon Galvez
In a move that strengthens and unifies the country’s grassroots golf development program, the National Golf Association of the Philippines has tapped the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines to conduct the qualifiers for this year’s Uswing Mojing Junior World Championships in San Diego, California.
The partnership was recently approved following discussions between top officials of both organizations—a collaboration expected to further boost the sport at the grassroots level, with NGAP aligning itself with a group that has established a strong junior program.
The qualifying tournament for the boys’ division is set for March 15 to 17, while the girls’ division will be held on March 27 to 29. Both events will take place at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac City.
The Uswing Mojing Junior World Championships will be played from July 4 to 9.
“The National Golf Association of the Philippines is pleased to partner with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines in staging the qualifiers for the Junior World Championships in San Diego, California,” said NGAP president Martin Lorenzo and NGAP chairman Al Panlilio during the Pro-Am meet of the Asian Tour.
“This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to grassroots and junior golf development, and to providing young Filipino golfers the opportunity to compete and excel on the international stage.”
Panlilio, a former president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, was among the amateur players who competed in the Pro-Am, along with JGFP president Oliver Gan and junior golf “godfather” and former congressman Mikey Arroyo. The partnership with Lorenzo was finalized following the event.
“We have always been willing to work with NGAP. Our president, Oliver Gan, is very able to lead in organizing the qualifying meet. He has made the JGFP very big now in terms of numbers (members),” said Arroyo.
“So we’re very happy that NGAP has recognized that. We’ll take care of our own funding. But if they’ll help, it’s good,” he added.
Gan expressed excitement over organizing the event, noting that the foundation has handled similar tournaments in the past.
“This is the call of the junior golfers, and we shall do it for the kids,” said Gan.
NGAP secretary general Bones Floro said the qualifiers will offer four slots each in the boys’ and girls’ divisions for the 15–18 age group, while the younger categories—7–8, 9–10, 11–12, and 13–14—will have three slots each.
