By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The battle for the remaining berths in the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT finals intensified after the opening round of the sixth and final Visayas-Mindanao Series leg at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City.
With several top-ranked players absent from the tournament, contenders across multiple age-group divisions found themselves with an opportunity to strengthen their bids for places in the grand finals scheduled for August 17 to 20 at Pueblo de Oro.
In the girls’ 11-14 category, Cebu’s Marqaela Dy moved into the lead after posting a four-over-par 74, edging Andrea Borromeo by one stroke. Dy entered the week ranked third in the overall standings and remains in contention to secure a finals berth with a strong finish in the 36-hole event.
Behind the leaders, contenders continued to jostle for valuable ranking points. Barroquillo carded a 77 to take third place, while Chelsea Ogborne shot 79 and Eliana Dumalaog settled for an 80.
“I need to accumulate enough points to break into the finals,” said Dy, 13 years old.
Dy, who won the opening two legs of the series, returned to competition after missing several events because of school commitments.
Reflecting on her round, she acknowledged there was room for improvement.
“I need to stay in the right mental space and make sure my putts drop,” added Dy.
The girls’ 7-10 division also remained highly competitive. Vanya Go fired a 74 to take a two-shot lead over Ana Marie Aguilar, who carded a 76. Zoey Mascariñas stood in third with an 81.
Already assured of a place in the North vs. South finals, Go said she was focused on ending the series on a high note after adjusting her approach following last week’s tournament.
In the boys’ 7-10 class, Darren Ong emerged as the frontrunner after shooting a 76. His round gave him a sizable advantage over Anthony Avila, who scored 90, while Niño Rivero posted a 99.
Ong’s round featured four birdies, helping him build a comfortable cushion entering the final day.
The boys’ 11-14 division saw Jordino Mesina take the first-round lead with an 81, followed by Ken Guillermo at 85 and Isaac Locins at 87. Despite the leaderboard changes, the overall rankings in the category remain largely settled heading into the conclusion of the tournament.
Competition was equally close in the premier boys’ 15-18 division. Clement Ordeneza grabbed the lead with a 73, one shot ahead of Inno Flores. Sebastian Sajuela remained within striking distance after a 75, while Roman Tiongko carded a 76.
The race for the remaining finals spots in the division remains fluid, particularly with some of the higher-ranked players not participating in the final leg.
In the girls’ 15-18 category, Precious Zaragosa delivered one of the day’s best performances, firing an even-par 70 highlighted by three birdies. Her effort gave her an eight-shot advantage over Apple Gotiong, who opened with a 78.
Lois Lane Go and Mikela Guillermo struggled to keep pace after rounds of 80 and 85, respectively.
The final round is expected to determine several remaining spots in the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT finals, with players across multiple divisions still fighting for crucial ranking points and championship berths./ASC, WDJ