Agustin rallies, An holds off locals at JPGT Malarayat

LIPA City, Batangas – John Paul Agustin Jr. claimed victory after three close calls, including a runner-up finish in his previous outing, capturing the boys’ 13-15 title in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series 6 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.

The field, including participants in the 16-18 division, faced a tough day as they battled unpredictable weather on the Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo courses. Navigating gusty winds, rain, and occasional sunshine, the young golfers vied for top honors and crucial ranking points in the lead-up to the Match Play Championship.

Agustin’s win was all the more remarkable as he staged a comeback from three strokes down with nine holes to play. He delivered a steady 37 on the challenging Mt. Malipunyo nine, finishing with a 76 and a total of 155.

Meanwhile, John Majgen Gomez, the erstwhile leader, faltered under pressure, recording a disappointing back nine of 44 and ending with an 83.

“I knew I had a shot right from the start, being only three strokes behind the leader,” said Agustin, a 15-year-old student from Elizabeth Seton School. He topped the tournament, which was shortened to 36 holes after Monday’s first round was canceled due to adverse weather.

“I felt good about my game, especially after hitting well on the range before the final round. My chipping and putting had improved, so I went in with confidence,” added Agustin, who carded a 79 in the first round.

Agustin’s victory came at the expense of Gomez, who unraveled with four bogeys from No. 14 onward, surrendering his lead. Two strokes down with one hole to play, Gomez gambled on the closing par-4 but faltered, finishing with a costly double bogey.

Gomez ended with an 83 for a total of 159, while pre-tournament favorite Jose Carlos Taruc, a winner at Riviera and Luisita, settled for third place after an 80, totaling 165.

Agustin’s triumph boosted his bid for a finals spot, with just one tournament left in the seven-stage Luzon series, which culminates in the Match Play Championship, set for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna. The top four players in each age division, based on their best four performances, will qualify for the national finals.

In the girls’ 13-15 division, Korean standout Yunju An held her nerve to secure victory despite a challenging finish, which saw her record four bogeys in the last five holes. An triumphed over top local contenders Mona Sarines, her twin sister Lisa, Kendra Garingalao, and Levonne Talion with a final score of 151, despite shooting a 78.

An, who seized early control with a 73, never relinquished her lead as her rivals struggled in tough conditions. After a birdie on No. 11 and a frontside 39, she stumbled with errors from No. 14 but managed to hold on, finishing with a six-over-par round.

“I didn’t play well; my shots were off because of the wind, which led to many bogeys,” said An, through an interpreter. She expressed gratitude to her parents, grandmother, and coach for their support.

Mona Sarines mounted a strong challenge on the Mt. Malipunyo course but fell short, closing with a 37 and a 77 for a total of 153, two strokes behind An. This marked Sarines’ fifth runner-up finish in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Lisa Sarines struggled with an 82 but tied with Garingalao, who slipped with an 84, for third place with a total of 163.

In the premier 16-18 category, Luisita leg winner Lia Duque continued her dominant form, pulling away with a score of 151 despite a 78 heading into the final 18 holes. Duque extended her lead to 19 strokes over Rafa Anciano, who carded an 85 for a total of 170. Chloe Rada also shot an 85 to take third place at 176.

“The wind affected my game today; it was tougher than yesterday. I struggled to hit greens in regulation during the last nine holes,” Duque said. She plans to adopt a more conservative approach in the final round to better manage the challenging conditions.

“I’ll focus on improving my short game to secure more pars and reduce bogeys,” she added.

In the boys’ 16-18 division, Patrick Tambalque turned what began as a close contest with Rafael Mañaol into a commanding lead. He fired a 74, extending his overnight two-shot lead to an imposing eight-stroke cushion with a total of 146.

Mañaol, who birdied the second hole to briefly tie Tambalque after a two-shot swing, faltered with several bogeys and a double bogey in the final stretch.

Tambalque, on the other hand, recovered with a series of pars and finished strong despite back-to-back miscues from No. 10. Mañaol ended with an 80 for a total of 154, while Zachary Villaroman finished with a 157 after shooting an 80. Luisita leg winner Mark Kobayashi struggled to bounce back from an opening-round 80, concluding with an 82 for a distant fourth place at 162.

“I struggled with my putting today and missed several birdie opportunities, unlike in the first round,” said Tambalque, who is aiming for the lone finals spot in his division through the multi-series campaign.

“I’ll stay patient and stick to my game plan,” added Tambalque, who continues his quest for a third leg crown after winning the Visayas Series 2 and Luzon Series 4.