The ICTSI Junior PGT Match Play Finals crowned its first-ever champions, with eight winners emerging across various age categories. These young talents highlighted the importance of staying focused, composed and physically fit, while also recognizing the confidence boost the intense three-day competition brought them – especially on the grueling final day with its 36-hole challenge.
For girls’ 16-18 winner Ally Gaccion from Cagayan de Oro, this tournament was about redemption.
“Last year, I lost via playoff, so winning this year means a lot to me,” said Gaccion, who scored a 4&3 victory over Lia Duque in the final.
Boys’ 16-18 champion Zach Villaroman from Biñan, Laguna, seized his title with a commanding 6&4 win over Mark Kobayashi.
Other big winners were Brittany Tamayo of Tupi, South Cotabato and Laguna’s Precious Zaragosa, who clinched the girls’ 10-12 and 13-15 titles, respectively.
But it was Tamayo who scored the most dramatic win, outlasting Aerin Chan with a 1-up win on the 19th hole.
Tamayo’s focus and calmness under pressure led her to triumph.
“It was an important win because I stayed composed the entire time,” said Tamayo, whose family owns one of two golf courses in South Cotabato.
Zaragosa, on the other hand, edged Lisa Sarines in a tense semifinal decided in a playoff and then sealed a 2-up win over Mona Sarines, preventing a Sarines sibling showdown in the finals.
For boys’ 13-15 category champion, Clement Ordeneza of Bukidnon, who breezed past Armand Copok and Jose Carlos Taruc, the competition was more about learning and enjoying his game than the win itself.
Ralph Batican, another standout from Bukidnon, mirrored these sentiments. A protégé of golf legend Frankie Miñoza, Batican reflected on the valuable lessons he learned from the series, particularly in mastering the Match Play format.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ 8-9 division, Denise Mendoza of Cebu Learning Center clinched a narrow 2&1 victory over top seed Winter Serapio. The win marked the culmination of Mendoza’s hard work and perseverance, which saw her compete in numerous events across Visayas and Luzon to sharpen her skills.
Bacolod’s Kvan Alburo also closed the event in spectacular fashion, dominating Michael Ray Hortel II, 5&3.
After making a mark in Visayas, the nine-year-old proved his mettle once again, earning his division title and showcasing immense potential.
The series, which took six of its eight division titles from Visayas and Mindanao, fulfilled its mission of discovering talent from the provinces, nurturing them into future national team members and potential world-class players. More than just a competition, the five-month-long nationwide circuit built lasting friendships and connections, reinforcing the value of camaraderie and sportsmanship.
