By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Stacy Rane Chiu overcame a huge deficit to capture the girls’ 13-15 category championship in the ICTSI-Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Visayas Series 3 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Wednesday afternoon, July 3.
Aside from ruling her division, Chiu also garnered 15 crucial points with her remarkable come-from-behind win to earn a coveted spot in the Philippine Junior Match Play Championship this October.
Kelsey Bernardino had a three-stroke lead with two holes to play, but she committed a double bogey and a bogey for 87 and 263 total.
Chiu matched this with gritty closing pars for 85, forcing a sudden death playoff.
Both players bogeyed the first playoff hole on no. 1, but Chiu showcased her resilience, winning the par-4 opening hole with a par as Bernardino struggled with her bunker shots, needing five strokes to reach the green.
“I stayed calm and took it shot by shot because you never really know what will happen,” Chiu said.
“I felt a lot of pressure being seven strokes down after nine holes as I kept making bogeys,” she added.
In the boys’ 13-15 category, Nyito Tiongko maintained firm control with a closing 80, securing victory over Gabriel Handog despite a frontside 41.
He finished with a total of 234, defeating Handog by 10 strokes.
With back-to-back victories, Tiongko accumulated 30 points, towing Inno Flores, who garnered 27 points, into the national finals of the nationwide series sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“I really focused on winning and prayed hard,” said Tiongko.
“I’m so excited to play at [The Country Club]. It will be my first time and, hopefully, not my last,” he added.
Dominique Gotiong all secured the girls’ 16-18 crown and a seat in the national finals for the second consecutive week.
She delivered 78 for 246 total, establishing a whopping 56-stroke lead over Rhiena Sinfuego.
“I had difficulty reading the greens, but I was able to improve my score and finish strong,” said Gotiong, who made five bogeys in a backside start before closing with 38 at the demanding par 35-35 layout./ASC, WDJ