Baroquillo, Barnes Shine in Del Monte Junior Championship

BUKIDNON – Wire-to-wire victories defined supremacy in two age divisions of the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship, with frontrunners from Davao and Cagayan de Oro splitting top honors with two titles each Thursday.

Davao’s Soleil Molde and Kimberly Baroquillo delivered dominant performances in the girls’ 7‑10 and 11‑14 divisions, respectively, across 36‑hole showdowns.

Baroquillo capped her campaign with a hole‑in‑one on No. 12 at the Del Monte Golf Club.

On the boys’ side, CDO’s Jamie Barnes and Ken Guillermo claimed victory in the same age brackets, thwarting local contenders in the first leg of the four‑stage Mindanao swing of the Visayas‑Mindanao Series.

Baroquillo displayed remarkable consistency, firing a second straight 73 for a 146 total, four strokes ahead of Mactan leg winner Brittany Tamayo, who closed at 150.

CDO’s Isabella Espina placed third with a 168 after an 87.

“I really aimed for the right side, going against my caddie’s advice to hit it straight,” recalled 13‑year‑old Baroquillo of her hole‑in‑one.

She used a TaylorMade 7‑iron to ace the 147‑yard No. 12, earning a certificate and ₱10,000 from the Del Monte Golf Club.

The Homeschool Global student also notched her first JPGT victory, crediting new patience and composure.

“I usually get tense and nervous playing. On every tee box, I always worry I might mess up,” she said.

“All the hard work has finally paid off. I’ve been training intensely over the past few months to improve, and winning for the first time is just an incredible feeling,” she added.

Molde seized a three‑shot lead after an opening 77 and held on for a 156 total despite a closing 79, besting Clarin Quiño’s 163.

Molde stumbled with late double bogeys, finishing with an 81, but still enjoyed a seven‑stroke triumph.

“It was the challenges I faced that kept me going. I learned from my mistakes, made new friends, and most of all, God helped me win,” said 8‑year‑old Molde, who hones her skills at Apo Golf.

Francesca Geroy, second after 18 holes, slipped to third after an 84 and 164 total in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

In the boys’ 7‑10 division, nine‑year‑old Barnes marked his JPGT debut with a five‑stroke win over Mactan’s Ethan Lago after shooting a bogey‑free 69 and 141 total.

Lago birdied the final hole for a 70 and solo second at 146, while Lucas Revilleza’s 78 edged Kvan Alburo on countback for third at 155.

“I think I played really well today. I had four birdies and just one bogey on the back nine,” said Barnes, who thanked his dad and uncle and celebrated his first JPGT title.

In the 11‑14 boys’ division, Guillermo recovered from a roller‑coaster front nine to shoot 73 and capture the crown with a 143 total, seven shots ahead of Marcus Dueñas.

Dueñas rallied with a 73 to edge South Cotabato’s Jared Saban, who shot 79, for second after both finished at 150.

“It’s all about consistency. I didn’t make a double bogey the entire tournament – and that’s a stat I’m proud of,” said 13‑year‑old Guillermo.

“Winning for the first time feels amazing. After settling for silver and bronze finishes in the past, this one really means a lot,” he added, attributing his breakthrough to steady putting.

“My putting saved me more than once, helping me avoid potential double bogeys. That’s where consistency really came in,” he said.

Challenged early by Saban, Guillermo said he focused on staying comfortable under pressure to avoid unraveling.

The four champions strengthened their bids for the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior Finals, where the top four in each division after seven legs qualify for the Vis‑Min team at the national finals Sept. 30‑Oct. 3 at The Country Club in Laguna.

Bukidnon’s Zero Plete and Alexis Nailga led the premier 15‑18 division, topping the girls’ and boys’ leaderboards with gritty second‑round efforts under overcast, humid skies.

Plete recovered from a bogey‑laden front nine with a 75 for a 150 total, maintaining a five‑shot lead over Davao’s Precious Zaragosa, who shot 77 for 155.

Local bet Crista Miñoza rebounded from an opening 81 with a 76 but still trailed Plete by seven strokes at 157 entering the final round of the 54‑hole event.

Plete, despite her commanding lead, stressed the need to stay focused and avoid complacency.

“There wasn’t much difference from my game yesterday. I just missed a few fairways and had some lapses on the greens, including a three‑putt bogey on No. 10 from birdie range,” she said.

Nailga inched toward a second straight victory in the boys’ 15‑18 division with a bogey‑free 70, building a three‑shot lead at 142 after dominating Mactan.

Fellow local and last year’s Match Play champion Clement Ordeneza stayed close with a final‑six birdie spree to card a 70 and a 145 total.

Vince Naranjo carded a steady 73 for solo third at 152, while Armand Copok and Nyito Tiongko tied for fourth at 153 after both shot 79.