Casuga, Pilac clinch last JPGT Finals berths

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite — Jacob Casuga and Quincy Pilac turned runner-up finishes into Finals tickets after surviving a tense qualification battle in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Junior PGT Championship on Thursday at the Aoki layout of Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club.

Casuga and Pilac placed second in their respective divisions to secure the fourth and final Luzon berths to the Elite Junior PGT North vs. South Finals scheduled Aug. 17–20 at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.

The Luzon Series finale produced sharp leaderboard swings, late collapses, and pressure-packed finishes as junior golfers fought for the last available spots in the national showdown.

Casuga entered the week ranked sixth in the boys’ 11–14 division but rallied from five shots down and briefly took the lead before a bogey-double bogey finish left him with a 75 and a 151 total.

Chan Anh also closed with a double bogey but held on for the division title with a 76 and a 148 aggregate.

Ryuji Suzuki fired a 74 to finish third at 153, while overnight leader Javie Bautista stumbled with an 83 after an opening 71 and dropped to fourth at 154.

Casuga’s second-place finish gave him 30 points for the series, tying Suzuki for fourth overall, but Casuga claimed the final Finals seat through the tiebreak.

Casuga will join Anh, Vito Sarines, and Bautista on the North squad.

Pilac followed a similarly dramatic route in the girls’ 11–14 division, closing with a 72 for a 150 total to stay in contention despite a late stumble that cost her the title.

Cailey Gonzales captured the division crown with a 75 and a 149 aggregate, while Aerin Chan struggled to a 79 and finished third at 155.

Pilac earned 12 points for her runner-up finish, lifting her series total to 31 from only three tournaments and allowing her to edge Chan, who finished with 30 points after three third-place efforts.

The final leg was played under sweltering heat and gusty winds, adding to the pressure across the age divisions.

In the girls’ 7–10 category, Jaicee Cervantes delivered one of the week’s most dominant performances, carding an eagle-aided 71 for a 147 total and an 11-shot victory over Tyly Bernardino, who shot a 77 for 158.

Jehanne Mendoza placed third at 160 after an 83.

Cervantes’ victory capped a late-season surge highlighted by her triumph in the fifth Luzon leg at Beverly Place.

Despite playing only the minimum three tournaments required, Cervantes amassed 38 points and clinched a Finals berth alongside Winter Serapio, Andrea Dee, and Mendoza.

“I’m happy because my hard work is paying off, and I hope to bring that same consistency to the finals,” said Cervantes, whose charge was sparked by an eagle on No. 10 after holing out a 54-degree half-swing approach following a solid drive.

The nine-year-old Assumption College student said she was not focused on winning.

“I just wanted to stay focused throughout the round. Winning was simply a bonus,” said Cervantes, who trains at Manila Southwoods and Alabang Country Club.

Gonzales, a 13-year-old Brent International School student, also said she entered the week with modest expectations.

“I just wanted to have fun since most of my friends were playing. I really wasn’t thinking about making the podium,” said Gonzales.

Gonzales delivered the key shot of the title race on No. 8, knocking her approach to within five feet and converting the birdie putt for a crucial two-shot swing over Pilac, who holed out with a bogey.

“That birdie gave me a 1-up lead,” she said.

Gonzales said she will focus on consistency through daily training and practice heading into the Finals.

In the boys’ 7–10 division, Asher Abad appeared headed for a Finals berth after taking command midway through the round.

Abad made four bogeys from No. 10 but steadied himself with four straight pars and remained on track for second place before two errant shots on the final hole led to a costly triple bogey and an 83.

The closing-hole collapse dropped Abad from second to fourth at 157, one stroke behind joint runners-up Sooreen Lee, who shot a 75, and Mateo dela Cruz, who carded a 79, as both finished at 156.

Drake Matias topped the division with a 152 despite a 78 but was out of Finals contention.

Abad earned only eight points from the leg and finished the series with 28, allowing Kenzo Tan and Kingston Ching to hold the last two Finals berths with 31 and 30 points, respectively, despite finishing fifth and sixth in the final leg.

Tan faltered with an 85 for a 162 total, while Ching finished at 166 after an 86.

Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc, who led the standings with 42 points each, completed the North lineup.

In the boys’ 15–18 division, Jakob Taruc moved closer to securing the remaining Finals berth after a 74 gave him a 149 total and a four-shot lead over Harry Sales, who struggled with a 79 for 153.

Lujo Gomez pooled a 155 after a 77 heading into the final 18 holes.

A victory would officially secure Taruc the fourth and final Finals berth behind Tristan Padilla, Shinichi Suzuki, and Geoffrey Tan.

“My chipping wasn’t as sharp as it was in the first round, but my putting clicked, so it wasn’t much of a problem because I played more consistently,” said 16-year-old Taruc.

Taruc said he aims to stay composed and find a more consistent swing as he seeks to close the Luzon series with back-to-back victories after his dominant win at Beverly Place.

In the girls’ premier division, Rafa Anciano seized the lead after an 81 gave her a 161 aggregate.

Anciano moved three shots ahead of Kendra Garingalao, who struggled with an 84 for 164, while Levonne Talion posted an 83 for a 165 total.

“I had to stay patient throughout the day, so I focused on my putting and waited for opportunities to save pars. That helped me move from second place to the top of the leaderboard,” said Anciano.

“I played well on the front nine and shot a 37, but I struggled in the last nine holes. Hopefully, I can go even lower tomorrow,” said 17-year-old Anciano, who headed straight to the driving range after her round to fine-tune her swing.

“I need to work on my driving and make more putts tomorrow,” she added.

With sisters Lisa and Mona Sarines already assured of Finals spots, Garingalao with 37 points, Anciano with 35, and Talion with 32 remain locked in the fight for the last two berths.