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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Golf devider Nat'l stroke play championship gets going at Pradera with eyes on young guns

Nat'l stroke play championship gets going at Pradera with eyes on young guns

Published Jul 26, 2026 03:08 pm

At A Glance

  • A lean yet talent-stacked ladies field and a big men's roster will tee it up on Wednesday, July 29, when the NGAP's National Stroke Play Championship gets off the ground at the wide-open Pinatubo layout of Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.

A lean yet talent-stacked ladies field and a big men's roster will tee it up on Wednesday, July 29, when the NGAP's National Stroke Play Championship gets off the ground at the wide-open Pinatubo layout of Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.

The brightest teen stars led by Tashana Balangauan, Precious Zaragosa, Crista Therese Minoza and the Sarines twins Mona and Lisa headline the small ladies field that will gun for the title to join the champions roll of the event won by the likes of Rianne Malixi and Mafy Singson in the past.

Minoza was a dominant junior force up until last year in the Junior PGT series, while Mona, Balangauan and Zaragosa have all won 15-18 division legs and are definitely battle-tested for a 72-hole tournament.

Jules Gaerlan is the most experience bet in the ladies' field, having played in several professional LPGT events as an amateur for the past several years now.

Meanwhile, Jet Hernandez and Rolando Bregente, who finished in a fourth place tie in the Singapore Amateur Open two weeks ago, will be leading the big men's field that has two second generation players seeking to duplicate championships won by their fathers.

Zach Villaroman, whose dad, Carito, was the 1984 PH Am champion that was a mix of stroke play and match, is one of the players to watch in the men's bracket. Coached by his father, Zach will be shooting to win the biggest tournament of his career starting Wednesday.

John Robert Bernis will also be shooting to win a national title like his father Jun, who became a standout for Canlubang in the Interclub before playing in the Philippine Golf Tour for several years. The younger Bernis is still in high school, but already has the game to duplicate his dad's 2004 win at Canlubang.

Another interesting player to watch is Ralph Batican, the best from Bukidnon who has the revered Frankie Minoza as mentor. The teener, who sharpened his game at Del Monte under the watchful eyes of the legendary Minoza, is definitely a talent that is ripe to win.

A notable absence on the men's field is Shin Suzuki, who is still in the United States campaigning in that country's championship.

This will be the first of two big events the NGAP will be hosting in the next two weeks, with the National Match Play up at fabled Luisita next where Grace Pauline Quintanilla, who won the Singapore Am via a five-hole playoff over a Chinese foe, to see action.

Related Tags

Rolando Bregente Jr NGAP Precious Zaragosa
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