By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Eliana Mendoza and Kvan Alburo continued their dominance in the 8-9 age category at the ICTSI-Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Bacolod Visayas series at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club on Tuesday afternoon, June 25.
Mendoza delivered 84 to win the 36-hole competition for the second consecutive week, finishing with a total of 169.
She outperformed Ana Marie Aguilar, who posted 236 after 114, while Faith Reosura placed third with 238 after 120 at the tight.
“I’m very happy. This win means a lot to me because I got to make my family proud,” said the nine-year-old Mendoza, from Cebu, who amassed 30 points for her twin victories, including her victory in Iloilo last week.
Fellow Cebuano Alburo replicated his runaway triumph in Iloilo City last week, with a two-day score of 170 after 87 marked by birdies on nos. 2 and 4 in hot, humid conditions.
With their consecutive victories, Mendoza and Alburo are set for the Philippine Junior National Match Play Championship National Finals in October at The Country Club in Laguna.
The Top 2 players from each category in the Visayas and Mindanao series will join the Top 4 from the Luzon tour, with the top player in each category advancing to the head-to-head finals of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI.
Meanwhile, Zuri Bagaloyos capped the Cebuanos’ sweep in the second leg of the Bacolod series as he secured a commanding win in the girls’ 10-12 division, avenging her defeat to Cailey Gonzales in the Iloilo leg.
Bagaloyos, tied with Gonzales after the first round, pulled ahead with a frontside 39 and surged further with a birdie on no. 11 and a series of pars, while Gonzales struggled with five straight bogeys from no. 10.
After facing setbacks in the Luzon series, Race Manhit finally captured his elusive win, closing with a 75 to dominate the boys’ 10-12 field with 156 total, winning over Iloilo leg winner Kurt Flores.
Meanwhile, the registration for the third Bacolod series, set from July 1 to 4 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, is ongoing./ASC, WDJ