BAGUIO CITY – Rafa Anciano and pal Chloe Rada injected excitement and intensity into the girls’ division of the premier age category of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series 3 with the former clinching the dramatic win on the second playoff hole here Thursday.
In front of the fringe on the par-4 18th of the Pinewoods Golf and Country Club, Anciano calmly chipped to within three feet, then sank the par-saving putt to claim victory.
Meanwhile, Rada’s attempt to blast out of the right greenside bunker left her well short of the target, resulting in a long putt which she missed.
Despite the pressure of the competition, Anciano emphasized the shared passion and enjoyment they both found in the playoff.
Reflecting on their long-standing friendship, Anciano said: “We practiced a lot together at Forest Hill. It was fun because I know that we’ve been on similar levels for a long time. Being able to get head-to-head was really cool.”
In the boys’ category, Tristan Padilla dominated with an emphatic 11-shot victory. Leading Charles Serdenia by nine strokes after 54 holes, Padilla extended his lead with a frontside 36.
Despite Serdenia’s rally, featuring three birdies in the first four holes of the backside, the 15-year-old Padilla, who finished second at Pradera Verde, maintained his lead, finishing with a three-under 285 total after a 68 spiked by a solid backside 32.
Serdenia, aiming for his second JPGT trophy after a come-from-behind win at Splendido Taal, settled for second with a 296 total after a 70. The runner-up finish, however, earned him crucial points for the upcoming JPGT Match Play Championship in October.
Padilla’s triumph mirrored the dominant victories of Brianna Macasaet and Jose Luis Espinosa in the 8-10 category, as well as Lisa Sarines in the girls’ 11-14 division. Vito Sarines also secured the boys’ 11-14 title, marking his second win in the first three legs of the Luzon series via a two-stroke victory..
Earlier, Rada, needing to make a par-saving putt from five feet on the 18th, successfully did so, finishing with a 90 in regulation. Anciano, however, matched this under pressure, sinking her own par-saving putt from three feet to finish with a 91, leading to a tied total of 356 and necessitating a playoff.
Both players showcased their short game skills with impressive pitch shots setting up their par-saving putts. Rada, from a challenging lie on the left side of the green, executed a delicate shot over a bunker. Anciano, with a straightforward pitch from 60 yards, also placed her shot well.
Ultimately, Anciano, 15, clinched victory with a scrambling par as Rada mishit her approach shot on the finishing hole in a thrilling finale filled with mistakes but highlighted the exceptional grit and determination of both players.
Anciano squandered a one-stroke lead with a double-bogey on the par-4 17th, which Rada bogeyed, sending the match into an extra hole.
