After switching on the TV to watch the sports channel, I decided to watch golf and saw this college golf tournament featuring Stanford University, the alma mater of our former Daily San Pedro Express news bureau chief Michael Dacudao Locsin, against the University of Oregon, the alma mater of our fellow sports for peace Mindanao co-worker Prof. Henry C. Daut.
Suddenly flashing to my mind was Alessandra Zozobrado Nagayo, granddaughter of one of my favourite Davao City Councillors Attorney Jesus “Baby” Zozobrado.
Alessandra, christened “Swingderella” by our editor in chief Neil Bravo, has been making waves in the amateur golf circuit and if you have been following the sports pages of Edge Davao, Neil has been closely following and writing about her performance.
As I watch Rose Zhang of Stanford play, I said to myself, “Makit an unta nako nis Alessandra sa TV da.” I could not help but tag Neil in my comment on FB as I wish that someday, we, Dabawenyos and Filipinos can see the “Swingderella” on golf channel. I just had a good feeling, that’s all. Naay good vibes ning bataa ba.
When her mom, Attorney Rachel Zozobrado Nagayo, the Toronto-based Philippine Labor Attache, posted on FB that Alessandra qualified to the 2022 USGA Junior Girls Championship last July 18 to 23 in Kentucky (murag taga diri man papa ni Daddy Ram Maxed, commissioner Charles not?), I was so happy. As in lipay gyud ba! She did see action but was nursing an injury, so she was not 100 percent healthy. But, in consolation, she was able to compete and get the needed experience.
Alessandra is currently playing for Team Ontario and will suit up for Kennesaw State University in Georgia in 2023.
I’m trying to recall if there was a Dabawenya to have qualified to the prestigious tournament, murag, wala pa man gyud. I thought of Imee Garcia, Davao City’s best lady golfer, if she had some chances back in the day, yet I am not sure. I should have asked her when we were still covering the Leon Garcia Memorial Golf Tournaments sa una. But that would be another story to tell.
With this beautiful news, what will this mean to women golf development in Davao?
This I believe will encourage support to golf development specifically for girls.
While the sport has been dominated by men and boys, there should be a program for girl’s golf, if golf club managers and patrons find this Alessandra development inspiring.
I remember when University of Mindanao executive vice-president Saturnino “Ondo” Petalcorin told us about a golf varsity team, that was one good news that we were happy about. In fact, when Davao City competed in the Philippine National Games, UM graciously lent their players to the City of Davao during the stint of then City Sports Chief Butch Ramirez.
A similar support for golf varsity players would lead to a wave of outstanding girl golfers following the footsteps of Alessandra.
Davao City has a rich history in golf.
Let us make Alessandra’s outstanding performances be an inspiration to all golf-loving Dabawenyos.
I have a feeling that The Forefathers Golf Association headed by newly-elected president, Attorney Ed Batacan, may be thinking of some girls golf development program. I just have a feeling and I may be right.
