Barnes dominates Apo win; Molde, Tamayo, Saban shine

DAVAO CITY – Jamie Barnes once again cemented his dominance in the boys’ 7–10 division, firing a 2-under 70 to claim a record fourth straight title in the ICTSI Apo Golf Junior PGT Championship on Tuesday.

Barnes, tied with hometown bet Lucas Revilleza after the first round of the 36-hole event, took the lead early with a birdie on the opening hole.

Though he stumbled with a double bogey on No. 2, the Cagayan de Oro ace displayed poise beyond his years, recovering steadily with key shots under pressure.

He bogeyed No. 7 but remained composed, carding a 38 on the front nine as Revilleza slipped with a 41.

Barnes then pulled away with birdies on Nos. 11, 12, and 13, and closed strong with a birdie on the par-5 18th to finish with a tournament-best 3-under 141 total.

He won by 12 strokes—the same margin he posted in earlier legs at Del Monte, Pueblo de Oro, and South Pacific.

“I hit a couple of 9-iron shots that set up birdie chances on Nos. 11 and 12—and I made them,” said Barnes, who turns 10 next month. “On the par-5 13th, I drove it down the middle, hit a 5-wood just short, then chipped close for a tap-in birdie.”

With 60 points and a perfect four-for-four record, Barnes is now virtually assured of a slot in the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior Finals at The Country Club in October.

The finals will feature top players from Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao in a Ryder Cup-style team event.

Cebu’s Kvan Alburo placed second with a 76 for a 153, while Revilleza faltered with an 85 and finished third at 156.

Davao finally broke through with a win as Soleil Molde captured the girls’ 7–10 title with a wire-to-wire victory.

Molde followed up her Del Monte triumph despite an 81 in the final round, finishing with a 159 total.

She edged Pueblo de Oro leg winner Claren Quiño, whose closing 73 left her three shots short at 162. Zoey Mascariñas took third at 188 after a 95.

“Winning at home is always special—but I really wanted this one, and I thank God for making it happen,” said Molde, adding that managing her emotions has been a key lesson from her JPGT journey.

In the girls’ 11–14 division, Brittany Tamayo made it back-to-back titles with a closing 71 for a 146 total.

She edged rival Shane Baroquillo by one shot, who birdied two of her last three holes to salvage a 72 and a 147 total.

Johanna Uyking rallied with a 76 to finish third at 156.

“I played better today than yesterday because I stayed focused and didn’t try to force things,” said Tamayo, also a winner in Mactan. “I didn’t expect to win—my opponent was really, really good.”

With 45 points and a guaranteed slot in the finals, Tamayo said she plans to skip the last two Visayas legs.

In the boys’ 11–14 category, Jared Saban backed up his South Pacific breakthrough with a dominant performance at Apo.

The South Cotabato standout fired a 34 on the front nine and closed with a 71 for a 148 total, winning by seven strokes.

“I didn’t expect to win with so many strong players in the field,” said Saban. “I just stayed focused and aimed for consistent pars—the birdies followed naturally.”

Valencia’s Marcus Dueñas, one shot behind entering the final round, struggled with a 40 on the front and carded a 77 to finish second at 155.

Mico Woo placed third at 161 after an 83, while two-leg winner Ken Guillermo slipped to fourth with a 164 after another 82.

In the boys’ 15–18 division, set over 54 holes, hometown bets Adrian Bisera and AJ Wacan are on course for a dramatic finish.

Bisera, one shot behind Wacan after the opening round, fired a 2-under 34 on the front nine and finished with a 71 for a 144 total.

Wacan dropped to second at 146 after a 74, setting the stage for a head-to-head finale.

Del Monte’s Alexis Nailga, who skipped the South Pacific leg after winning in Mactan, Del Monte, and Pueblo de Oro, struggled with a 76 and is third at 151.

Cebu’s Nyito Tiongko shot a second straight 77 for a 154, while Vince Naranjo and David Teves dropped to fifth and sixth with rounds of 79 and 83, respectively.

Enrico Rosales provided the day’s highlight with a hole-in-one on the 172-yard No. 17 using a 6-iron and a Pro V1 ball.

Despite the ace, Rosales finished with an 84 and a 167 total, placing 10th in the boys’ 15–18 division.

In the girls’ 15–18 side, Merry Rose Wacan broke away from a tie with Crista Miñoza with a steady 75 for a 154 total.

Miñoza slipped with an 80 for a 159, while Del Monte winner Zero Plete carded a 79 and sits third at 165.