Top young Filipino shotmakers will be raising the flag in the golf competition of the 2025 Asian Youth Games.
They will commence their bid on on Thursday at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa, Bahrain, part of the 136-strong Nationals who will be repping the flag in the sporting event.
READ: 136 athletes to represent PH in Bahrain Asian Youth Games
Patrick Tambalque, proven winner on the Junior Philippine Golf Tour, and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) titlist Eliana Saga head the team, which features other JPGT standouts in the 54-hole individual and team tournament.
JPGT Splendido Taal champion Charles Serdenia and JPGT Pinewoods winner Tristan Padilla also see action for the Philippine boys’ squad.
The Philippine team had two days in Bahrain ahead of the tournament — enough time, coach Ramon Brobio said, to familiarize themselves with the Colin Montgomerie-designed course, which recently hosted the DP World Tour’s Bahrain Championship.
READ: Pencak Silat athlete delivers PH's first gold in Asian Youth Games
Tapped by the National Golf Association of the Philippines only this year, Brobio said they skipped Royal Golf Club simulation sessions in favor of seeing and experiencing the actual conditions.
“It’s different when you see the actual grass, wind conditions and temperature, we’ll see,” said Brobio, who coached Miguel Tabuena and Princess Superal in their junior years.
“We expect Japan, China and Korea to be strong,” Brobio said. “But you know our players are capable, we’re very competitive. We’re gonna go out there and try our best and see what happens.”
Meanwhile, a Pencak Silat athlete had already clinched gold for the country ahead of the formal opening ceremonies.
Kram Airam Carpio delivered the Philippines' maiden gold, clinching the top honors in the girls' 51–55 kg division with a 33-19 victory over Indonesia's Qiken Dwi Tata Olifia late Monday.