Casuga Clinches JPGT Caliraya Crown With Clutch Par

CAVINTI, Laguna – Jacob Casuga staged a dramatic comeback, erasing a two-shot deficit over the final two holes to win the boys’ 11-14 division of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Junior PGT Championship on Thursday.

A critical birdie-bogey swing on No. 8 brought him within striking distance, and he sealed the win with a final-round 75, while Vito Sarines bogeyed the last hole for a 76 at the challenging Caliraya Springs Golf Club.

Casuga’s three-over card gave him a 36-hole total of 152, one stroke ahead of Sarines, who missed a chance to follow up his Sherwood Hills win and settled for second at 153.

Ryuichi Tao fired a second straight 78 for 156 and edged Jose Luis Espinosa (79-156) in a countback to take third.

“My short game and putting saved me,” said Casuga, who broke a string of three straight bronze finishes in the Luzon series of the nationwide circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

“This win means everything because it proves I can keep getting better,” he added.

Espinosa, who had tied Casuga and Sarines after the first round, slipped with a 79 in the event, which marked the fourth leg of the seven-stage Luzon series that offers berths to the Elite Junior Finals later this year.

Casuga credited his family and coach Dan Cruz, and drew inspiration from fellow Junior PGT standout Charles Serdenia.

“Seeing Charles rise pushed me to work even harder,” he said.

Casuga’s gritty comeback capped one of the most electrifying finishes in the three-year history of the ICTSI-backed series.

If Vito Sarines’ narrow loss stung, his sister Mona delivered redemption by firing a two-under 70 to dominate the girls’ 11-14 division by nine strokes.

Her seven-birdie, six-bogey effort produced a 143 total, leaving Kendra Garingalao (78-74–152) and twin sister Lisa Sarines (77-79–156) in second and third, respectively.

“My putting and second shots were on all week,” said Mona, 13, from Riviera.

“I’m grateful—I proved to myself I can shoot under par after all the hard work,” she added.

Winter Serapio completed a wire-to-wire victory in the girls’ 7-10 class with an even-par 72 for a 148 total, finishing 15 shots ahead of Tyra Garingalao.

The eight-year-old overcame a bogey-double start and responded with three birdies in six holes, later calling the win “proof that practice pays off.”

Tyra carded a 79 for 163 and edged Penelope Sy, who also shot 163 after an 80, via countback for second place.

In the boys’ 7-10 division, Zach Guico secured his third win in four legs with a second straight 73 for a 146 total, holding off Asher Abad (72-149) despite a closing bogey.

“I just stay calm,” Guico said.

“When I hit a bad shot I remind myself to recover,” he added.

Kenzo Tan placed third with a 90 for 171.

In the girls’ 15–18 division, Chloe Rada surged into the solo lead with a second-round 74, finishing with a 36-hole total of 163 to hold a three-shot advantage.

Locked in a tense three-way tie, the 16-year-old University of Asia and the Pacific student pulled ahead with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.

Levonne Talion, who rallied from eight shots down to beat Rafa Anciano in a playoff at Eagle Ridge, bogeyed the 16th and shot an 81 to slip to second at 166.

Anciano, who won the Sherwood Hills and Splendido Taal legs, faltered with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 and settled for an 82, dropping to third at 167.

Tiffany Bernardino briefly led during the round but fell out of contention with a triple bogey on No. 17, finishing with an 85 and a 169 total, six strokes off the lead.

“Yesterday, I struggled early but recovered on the back nine—and I was able to carry that momentum into today,” said Rada, who trains at Forest Hills.

She also noted the weather shift between rounds.

“The first round was tough because of the rain, but today it was hot—still, manageable,” she said.

“I was able to play a bit better in those conditions.”

Now in position for her first win in the premier division, Rada is focused on consistency.

“I lost a lot of balls in the first round, so my focus tomorrow is to play cleaner and more consistent golf,” she said.

“I want to make fewer mistakes and give myself a real chance to close this out.”

In the boys’ 15–18 division, Patrick Tambalque maintained his lead despite an even-par 72 following his opening-round 66.

His 138 total kept him six strokes ahead of Zachary Villaroman.

Villaroman scorched the back nine with a four-under 32 but faltered with three bogeys on the front nine for a 71 and 144 total.

John Paul Agustin Jr. (73-76–149) and Kristoffer Nadales (75-76–151) slipped out of contention, needing spectacular final rounds to challenge.

“My irons weren’t as sharp today—that’s why I couldn’t finish under par,” said Tambalque, referring to three bogeys that offset birdies on Nos. 2, 4 and 12.

“When Zach got close, of course I felt the pressure—in golf, you never really know what’s going to happen,” he said.

“But I just stuck to my game plan: hit fairways, hit greens and stay steady.”

With one round left, the Sherwood Hills champion isn’t chasing a specific number.

“I’m not chasing a specific score,” he said.

“I’ll keep the same game plan, stay patient and play steady.”

“Whatever the number, the goal is to finish on top.”

Crucial ranking points earned at Caliraya move the frontrunners closer to slots in the Elite Junior Finals, set for Sept. 30–Oct. 2 at The Country Club.

Luzon’s top players will face qualifiers from Visayas and Mindanao for national titles.

Participants must compete in at least three tournaments, with the top four in each division advancing to the finals.