By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Denise Mendoza and Ethan Lago posted commanding victories in their respective age brackets in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Junior PGT Championship at the Marapara course in Negros Occidental.

Mendoza dominated the girls’ 7-10 division, following up her opening-round 72 with a closing 70 for a 142 total in the 36-hole event.

The Cebuana widened her overnight lead from 16 shots to 27 at the turn and eventually completed a 33-stroke rout over Ana Marie Aguilar (87-175), with Faith Reosura (99-189) settling for third.

The win, Mendoza’s third in the series after Mactan and Apo, earned her 15 points and raised her total to 45, overtaking Soleil Molde (42) for the No. 1 ranking and securing a spot in the Elite Junior Finals slated from September 30 to October 3 at The Country Club.

In the boys’ 7-10 class, Davaoeño Lago carded a 76 for a 146 aggregate to post a nine-shot win over Lucas Revilleza (79-158).

James Rolida (87-170) finished third, followed by Tobias Tiongko (86-182) and Shaqeeq Tanog (96-183).

It was Lago’s second JPGT crown following his earlier triumph in Mactan.

The 11-14 division, however, produced the biggest movement in the race for finals slots.

Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican turned in a two-round 141 for a 35-shot victory over Miguel Mesina (85-176).

The win, his second after Mactan, gave him 30 points and lifted him to fourth in the rankings, dislodging Mico Woo (22).

Isaac Locsin (93-181) placed third.

In the girls’ 11-14 bracket, Zuri Bagaloyos of Singapore School Cebu rallied from three shots down to clinch her first series victory, shooting a closing 73 for a 149 and a five-shot triumph over Rafella Batican (73-81-154).

Andrea Borromeo took third with a 163 after an 83.

Bagaloyos, who had finished runner-up in Mactan, third in South Pacific, and fourth in Apo, improved to third in the rankings with 37 points./ASC, WDJ