THE second JRo Cup fires off today (Tuesday, April 10) at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club with a novel format pitting 40 of the country’s top and upcoming jungolfers from various ranks in a Ryder Cup-style tournament.
Jennifer Rosales will hit the ceremonial drive at 8 a.m. along with other guests, including former President and long-time Rosales backer Fidel V. Ramos, and other supporters of the 18-hole tournament the two-time LPGA champion is putting up to give back to the sport and help inspire the youth and develop their talent and skills.
“My goal here is for all the participants to have fun and enjoy the game. I want the Class C and D girls and boys players to learn from those ranked in Classes A and B, that’s why I paired them against each other,” said Rosales, who won the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open crown five times in row from 1994. She also became the first Filipina to win on the LPGA Tour in 2004 in Georgia and nailed her second crown in Hawaii the following year.
Rosales is expected to impart her “3 D’s” (discipline, determination and dedication) among the participants from whose bunch she hopes would come the next “JRo.”
“When I started playing golf, my Dad would always tell me the 3 D’s, which inspired and motivated me and got to where I am now. Even when I struggled, I kept fighting and finally made a breakthrough and won my first LPGA in 2004. I just never gave up and just worked really hard.”
Jolo Magcalayo, Nathan Kawpeng, Lester Lagman, Paqo Barro, Riggs Illescas, Masaichi Otake, Carlo Villaroman and Santino Gatmaytan head the Class A player with newly crowned Phiippine Junior champion Harmie Constantino bannering the girls’ Class A roster that includes Nicole Abelar, Kristine Torralba, Jona Magcalayo, Laia Barro, Mariel Tee, Tomi Arejola and Missy Legaspi.
Anton Rosales, Miguel Ilas and Sean Ramos along with Mafy Singson, Riani Malixi and Sunshine Zhang make up the Class B group while Sean Young, Dylan Castillo and Santino Pineda along with Sofia Go, Jody Castillo and Ma. Theresa dela Paz composed the Class C cast.
The Class D players are made up of Stevie Umali, Reese Ng, Gabbie Rosca and Celine Abalos while those ranked in Class E are Gavin Go, Geoff Tan, Scott Ng, Enzo Cham, Rajah Crisostomo and Jakob Taruc along with Nicole Gan and Coco Ong.
Fabulous prizes from tournament sponsor Callaway and Kit Dichaves, including golf bags, umbrellas, gift packs, visors, hydro flasks, will be up for grabs with Rosales, now retired from active competition, also giving away a customized ball marker with her logo for each player.