By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Patrick Tambalque secured a one-stroke lead in the fiercely competitive boys’ 16-18 category of the ICTSI-Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Bacolod Visayas series, which started on Monday afternoon, June 24, at Barangay Binitin in Negros Occidental’s Murcia town.
Tambalque leaned on a decisive last-hole birdie on the ninth to take a one-stroke advantage over John Rey Oro and Simon Wahing with 75 at the close of the opening round.
“I had a good start with a chip-in birdie on no. 10,” said 16-year-old Tambalque, who caught up with Oro at six-over following a bogey-double-bogey exchange on no. 8, but seized the solo lead with a clutch birdie from four feet on the last hole.
“My decision-making wasn’t great, but tomorrow, I know what I need to do to improve my game,” added Tambalque, a category winner in last year’s JPGT national finals, who tied for fourth in the Luzon series’ first leg at Splendido Taal last month.
Breathing down his neck are Oro and Wahing, who both carded 76, while John Paul Oro posted 77. Arsenio Acuña IV ended up with 79 for joint fifth place with Keith Pagalan.
In contrast, Dominique Evonne Gotiong marked her JPGT debut impressively, posting 81 to seize a six-shot lead over Iloilo leg winner Rhiena Sinfuego, who scored 87.
Breanna Rojas took third place with 98 in the girls’ premier division.
“I got a bit nervous after a run of bogeys at the back, but I was able to recover,” said the 16-year-old hopeful from Cebu making her first start in the nationwide series put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
In the 13-15 division, Nyito Tiongko and Tiffany Bernardino took charge with 76 and 87, respectively.
Race Manhit set the pace in the boys’ 10-12 side with 81, while Cailey Gonzales and Zuri Bagaloyos shared the lead in the girls’ 10-12 class with 82.
Trailing by three going into the 18th, Gonzales parred the par-3 hole, gaining a three-shot swing as Bagaloyos holed out with a triple-bogey 6 in the flight ahead, setting the stage for a spirited battle for top honors in the final 18 holes.
Meanwhile, Eliana Mendoza and Kvan Alburo aimed to replicate their dominant performances in the 8-9 age category in Iloilo.
Mendoza carded 85, leading Leanne Reosura by 34 strokes, while Alburo shot 83, securing a 17-shot advantage over James Rolida./ASC, WDJ