BAGUIO CITY – Ranz Louie Balay-odao, fresh from his 2nd runner-up honor in the recent ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour Launch, will lead a cast of 14 other local student-athletes in Battle of the North golf tournament set Sunday (June 22) at par-69 Camp John Hay (CJH)golf course here.
Balay-odao together with the local players will match golf skills against 60 expected season players across the country including the National Capital Region.
“Excited it being our home course and we have the home crowd,” said Balay-odao, who hold a personal best score of 5-under par in CJH.
“I am also eager to see how well we will perform under pressure in our home,” added Balay-odao , 3rd year Business Management student of University of Cordilleras (UC). He traces his roots to Bakun-Buguias (Benguet).
“We can never tell how a golf round will go, but I can guarantee to do my best and hopefully it is enough to win a podium finish,” added Balay-odao when asked about his chances.
Veteran and world cupper Danny Zarate will act as coach, and advised his players “to just play their game…stay focus, be compose and not to be over confident playing on their home course.”
Zarate, currently CJH golf pro , expressed great appreciation to schools like UC, Saint Louis University (SLU),University of Baguio (UB) and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for their support in allowing their student-athletes to participate in such high level of competition ,thus, it further develop local boys’ golf skills and mental toughness.
The other local student-athletes who will see action in this Pilipinas College Golf Series, one -day event with shotgun format are : Czendel Jay Guanso (UC), 3rd Class Cadet Lance Kiat-ong (PMA), both played in the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour Launch.
TonTon Fernandez (UB), Hazy Jones Miranda (SLU),Kyruz Pasiwen and Carl Jay-R Bohol ,both of UC.
Representing SLU are Lance V. Chrysvaughn Go , Annika D.Molintas, Melchor Carlos II P.Rabanes, Sofia Marie G. Bangaoet, Aenaes Armen M. Posadas, Nathaniel Philip M. Go, Jervin John C. Agaya, Gian Franco L.Estandian, and Hazy Jhones A.Miranda.
Meanwhile, Zarate, a four-time member of the national team is hopeful that golf will be included in the city’s university-college sports program, and for student-athletes into golf will be provided scholarships. Primo Agatep