Barnes, Guillermo Target Hat Trick in JPGT South Pacific

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DAVAO CITY – All eyes will be on the boys division of the ICTSI South Pacific Junior PGT Championship as Cagayan de Oro’s Jamie Barnes and Ken Guillermo seek their third straight victories following dominant wins at Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro.

The third leg of the four-stage Mindanao swing in the Visayas-Mindanao Series fires off today, July 9, at the South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates, where local bets hope to regain their edge after sweeping Del Monte but faltering at Pueblo.

Barnes, who secured a five-shot win at Del Monte and followed it with a commanding nine-stroke triumph at Pueblo, faces strong opposition from fellow Cagay-anons James Rolida and Shaqeeq Tanog, Davao’s Aison Bagares, and Cebu’s Kvan Alburo, last year’s JPGT Match Play Finals champion.

Denying Barnes a sweep, however, will take more than local familiarity and grit.

In the boys 11-14 division, Guillermo is also eyeing a third consecutive title after overpowering the field by seven strokes at Del Monte and 10 at Pueblo, as he aims to secure a slot in the JPGT North vs. South Elite Junior Finals.

Beyond the individual titles, ranking points are at stake in the race to the grand finals, with players required to join at least three of the seven Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao events to qualify.

The top four players per division will advance to the Oct. 7-10 finale at The Country Club in Laguna.

Guillermo will be tested by a deep roster of challengers, including Davao’s Guio Pasquil, Nicolas Bernardo, Dominic Cayabyab, George Chua and Daniel De Luna.

South Cotabato’s Jaren and Laurence Saban, Bukidnon’s Mico Woo and Ranulfo Parangan, and Valencia’s Marcus Dueñas are also expected to make their presence felt.

In the girls 15-18 category, Zero Plete looks to bounce back after settling for third at Pueblo, following her victory at Del Monte.

She faces tough competition from Bukidnon’s Crista Miñoza, CDO’s Mikela Guillermo, and Davao bets Merry Rose Wacan, Santinna Patosa and Feby Gulane.

A tight battle is also expected in the boys premier division, with Davao’s top contenders Adrian Bisera, Matthew Reyes, Caleb Go, Stuart Co, AJ Wacan, Felix Bula III, Angelo Curayag, Gabriel Rosal, Mark Tomanggong Jr. and Markel Kima clashing with Cebu’s Eric Jeon and CDO’s Seth Santos.

Also drawing attention is Armand Copok, whose closing 69 at Pueblo lifted him from seventh to second, just behind three-leg winner Alexis Nailga.

The 16-year-old CDO standout is eyeing a breakout win in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

More exciting matchups are set in the younger girls divisions.

In the 7-10 class, Del Monte winner Soleil Molde returns to home soil aiming to regain the lead after missing the Pueblo leg.

She will go up against CDO’s Francesca Geroy, Davao’s Zoey Mascariñas, and Mactan leg and 2024 Match Play Finals champion Eliana Mendoza.

The 11-14 division also promises action, led by South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo, winner of the Mactan leg, and Del Monte champion Kimberly Baroquillo of Davao.

Others in contention are Cebu’s Zuri Bagaloyos, GenSan’s Julia Movilla, Bukidnon’s Yvonne Colim, and local players Coleen Ang, Solana Molde, Jelian Peñaranda and Ayla Pavadora.