The victory of Bobe Salahog, a 19-year-old Negrense golfer, at the 2024 FCG Callaway World Junior Championship in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, California, USA, on July 18, marks a significant milestone in his young career.
Salahog, a talented golf athlete from Victorias, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, has emerged as one of the most promising golfers from the Philippines. His journey in golf began at the Victorias Golf and Country Club, where he worked as a ball boy when he was young.
Pike Braga, a prominent businessman and sports philanthropist based in Southern California and the Philippines, discovered Bobe’s potential was discovered after he was recommended to join the Pike Braga Sports and Development Foundation (PBSDF) when he was just 15 years old, by his brother, Nilo Salahog, a professional golfer and alumnus of PBSDF.
Bobe is the youngest of ten siblings, born to Boning and Padang of Barangay 18A, Victorias City, caddies to Braga, and with the support of the Victorias Milling Corporation management, led by President Linley Retirado, has been able to pursue his passion for golf.
Bobe’s dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed. He is also an alumnus of the Negros Junior Golf Foundation, under the leadership of President Tina Flores and adviser Joemarie Limjap.
Last year, Bobe was honored by Mayor Javi Benitez and Vice Mayor JB Bantug for representing the Philippines in international tournaments in Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, he received recognition from Negros Occ. Governor Bong Lacson, as a member of the Philippine team for his participation in these events. Governor Lacson also pledged his financial support for the Negros Junior Golf Foundation to help emerging talents like Bobe.
A significant part of Bobe’s success can be attributed to his team, particularly his international coach, Stan Dumdumaya, based in San Francisco, CA. Coach Stan, an Ilonggo from Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, and a cousin of Braga, has been mentoring Bobe through the Elite Golf Realm (EGR) academy.
With over 30 years of experience in private coaching, Coach Stan has a proven track record of developing elite golf athletes, with many of his students going on to play college golf in NCAA Division I and II universities, such as University of Southern California USC, Stanford, Georgia Tech, University Of San Francisco, Claremont MacKenna, California Academy of Arts, San Jose State, and CAL Berkeley, among others.
EGR focuses on the short game, emphasis on High Golf IQ, strong mental game and course management, utilizing scientific, state-of-the-art technologies and proven techniques. Bobe is Coach Stan’s third World Champion prodigy.
Bobe also receives guidance from his local coach in Manila, Robert “Pacto” Pactolerin, an accomplished golf professional and Bobe’s uncle. Pactolerin has numerous accolades in the field and continues to play a crucial role in Bobe’s overall development.
The Pike Braga Sports and Development Foundation (PBSDF) has always dreamed of developing athletes through its grassroots program. Bobe is one of its biggest success stories. When asked how he managed the pressures during the final day of the championship, Bobe attributed his success to patience, focusing on his routine, and concentrating on beating the course rather than his opponents.*
