LIPA CITY – John Paul Agustin, Jr. finally savored victory after three near-misses, including a runner-up finish in his previous outing, as he captured the boys’ 13-15 crown in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series 6 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday.
The field, including participants in the 16-18 division, faced another grueling day as they navigated unpredictable weather conditions on the Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo courses.
Agustin made his triumph even more remarkable, staging a stunning comeback from three strokes down with nine holes to play. He delivered a steady performance on the challenging Mt. Malipunyo nine, carding a gritty 37 and a 76 for a 155 overall.
In the premier 16-18 category, the results were lopsided as Luisita leg winner Lia Duque continued her dominant form, pulling away with a score of 151 despite a 78 heading into the final 18 holes. Duque extended her lead to 19 strokes over Rafa Anciano, who carded a second-round 85 for a total of 170, while Chloe Rada also finished with an 85 to take third place at 176.
In the boys’ 16-18 division, Patrick Tambalque turned what began as a close contest with Rafael Mañaol into a commanding lead. He fired a 74, extending his overnight two-shot lead to an imposing eight-stroke cushion with a total of 146.
Meanwhile, erstwhile leader John Majgen Gomez faltered under pressure, finishing with a disappointing back nine 44 and an 83.
Gomez ended with an 83 for a 159, while pre-tournament favorite Jose Carlos Taruc, who had secured victories at Riviera and Luisita, settled for third place with an 80, finishing with a 165 total.
Agustin’s victory bolstered his bid for a finals spot with just one tournament remaining in the seven-stage Luzon series, which culminates in the Match Play Championship scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna. The top four players in each age division, based on their best four performances, will qualify for the national finals.
In the girls’ 13-15 division, Korean standout Yunju An held her nerve to secure victory despite a challenging finish, which saw her falter with four bogeys in the last five holes. An triumphed over top local contenders Mona Sarines, her twin sister Lisa, Kendra Garingalao, and Levonne Talion, with a final score of 151 despite shooting a 78.
An, who took early control with a 73, never relinquished her lead, extending her advantage as her rivals struggled under severe conditions. Despite a birdie on No. 11 following a frontside 39, An stumbled with three consecutive errors from No. 14 but managed to hold on, finishing with a six-over-par card.
Mona Sarines mounted a strong challenge on the Mt. Malipunyo course, but her efforts fell short as she closed with a 37 and a 77 for a total of 153, two strokes behind An. This marked Sarines’ fifth runner-up finish in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Lisa Sarines struggled with an 82 but tied with Garingalao, who slipped with an 84, at third place with 163.
