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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Golf devider JGFP kicks off new year with Mindanao Open

JGFP kicks off new year with Mindanao Open

Published Jan 3, 2026 02:29 pm

At A Glance

  • Johanna Blair Uyking, a finalist in the Philippine Amateur Open, is expected to lead the host team as they go up against Philippine Amateur champion Lisa Sarines and her siblings Mona and Vito, recently crowned Singapore Island Country Club champion Nicole Gaisano Gan and sister Stephanie, as well as Enzo Cham, Felix Saludar, Venus delos Santos and Seth Koa.
Caption Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) president Oliver Gan, with daughters Stephanie and Nicole, receives a fresh partnership with Superkit, which is one of the major backers of the JGFP. (JGFP Photo)
Caption Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) president Oliver Gan, with daughters Stephanie and Nicole, receives a fresh partnership with Superkit, which is one of the major backers of the JGFP. (JGFP Photo)
Just like in the past two years, the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) is opening the new year with its annual tournament down south as the best young golfers from Mindanao tests the talents from the Metropolis in the JGFP Mindanao Open set to tee off Sunday, Jan. 4 at Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City. 
Johanna Blair Uyking, a finalist in the Philippine Amateur Open, is expected to lead the host team as they go up against Philippine Amateur champion Lisa Sarines and her siblings Mona and Vito, recently crowned Singapore Island Country Club champion Nicole Gaisano Gan and sister Stephanie, as well as Enzo Cham, Felix Saludar, Venus delos Santos and Seth Koa.
Adding firepower to the tournament are the rosters from South Cotabato led by Thailand Junior World champion Jared Saban, with Brittany Tamayo and Laurence Saban, as well as Regina Chiu, a Filipino based in Singapore, as she aims for glory in this 18-hole, par-72 championship course of Apo golf.
JGFP president Oliver Gan said holding the Mindanao Open is part of the JGFP’s mission in discovering new talents, reason why this tournament, supported by Superkit, golfpinoy.com, Golf Tribune, Gaisano and Islandwide Distribution Corporation, is now a regular in their annual program.
“We’re very excited to again bring the JGFP to Mindanao. This is our third straight year organizing an event that gathers the best talent from the south as they go up against the best from Metro Manila. Our goal remains the same, and that is to continue discovering new talents,” said Gan.
A special division featuring players 19 to 21 years old will also be contested as the likes of Aldrien Gialon, Nino Villasencio, Rainier Tagwalan, Rolly Wacan, and Rex Zaragosa, among others, will take aim at the title.
The tournament carries added significance as it is a World Amateur Golf Ranking event, giving players valuable points and international exposure. Adding to the excitement is the one-day Parent and Child tournament on Monday, Jan. 5 where former national team coach Marlon Dizon is expected to tee off.
Last year’s team tournament delivered unforgettable drama, with Uyking and Micah Shin edging out Nicole Gan and Elmer Salvador in sudden death.
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