Dy, Go, Ong near Junior PGT finals

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BACOLOD CITY — The final Visayas-Mindanao leg of the ICTSI Junior PGT series is headed for a tense finish at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, with Marqaela Dy, Vanya Go, and Darren Ong leading key divisions in the chase for remaining North vs. South Elite Junior PGT Finals berths.

With several top contenders skipping the sixth and final leg, the 7-10 and 11-14 age divisions opened up for players seeking last-minute tickets to the grand finals at Pueblo de Oro on Aug. 17-20.

Dy, a rising Cebuana standout, fired a four-over 74 Monday to lead the girls’ 11-14 division by one shot over Andrea Borromeo, who carded a 75.

Dy is No. 3 in the standings with 30 points, behind early qualifiers Brittany Tamayo with 40 points and Rafella Batican with 39.

Fourth-ranked Zuri Bagaloyos skipped the leg, leaving the final berth open.

Barroquillo, who has 28 points, shot a 77 for third, while Eliana Dumalaog, who has 26 points, struggled with an 80 for fifth behind Chelsea Ogborne’s 79.

“I need to accumulate enough points to break into the finals,” said Dy, 13, who topped the Mactan and Alta Vista legs before missing the next three legs because of academic commitments at Singapore School Cebu.

“I need to stay in the right mental space and make sure my putts drop,” added Dy, who said she will lean on her improving short game in the final round.

In the girls’ 7-10 division, Go bounced back with a 74 to build a two-shot lead over Bacolod bet Ana Marie Aguilar, who shot a 76.

Zoey Mascariñas stood third with an 81.

Go is already in position to advance with 39 points but is aiming for a winning finish.

Aguilar, who has 25 points, needs at least a Top 3 finish to make the grand finals.

Mascariñas, who has 28 points, is holding the fourth and final qualifying spot after third-ranked Akeisha Yocte skipped the tournament.

“I’m really excited to play in the finals,” said Go, who adjusted after finishing fourth in Bacolod behind Aguilar, Molde, and Yocte.

“The big difference today was that I played more conservatively. I just hope to play even better tomorrow,” added Go.

In the boys’ 7-10 division, Ong shot a 76 to move closer to the final championship berth.

Ong built a 14-shot lead over Anthony Avila, who had a 90, while Niño Rivero was third with a 99.

Ranked No. 6 with 20 points, Ong is expected to climb to No. 4 with a victory after Thomas Ngo skipped the final leg.

Ethan Lago, Stephen Clementer, and Lucas Revilleza have already secured the division’s first three slots.

“It would feel great to make it to the grand finals. I’ve been playing much better lately and sinking a lot of long putts,” said Ong, who made four long-range birdies on Nos. 12, 14, 18, and 9.

In the boys’ 11-14 division, Jordino Mesina led with an 81, followed by Ken Guillermo with an 85 and Isaac Locins with an 87.

Even a Mesina victory would raise his tally only to 33 points, short of fourth-ranked Mico Woo’s 35, leaving the finals seats to Jared Saban, Guillermo, Ralph Batican, and Woo.

In boys’ 15-18 play, Clement Ordeneza opened with a 73 for a one-shot lead over Inno Flores, who shot a 74.

Sebastian Sajuela followed with a 75, while Roman Tiongko carded a 76.

Three-leg winner Alexis Nailga leads the rankings with 45 points, while second-ranked Mhark Fernando, who has 33 points, skipped the leg.

Sajuela has 31 points, Ordeneza has 30, and Tiongko has 26, keeping the Nos. 2-4 race unsettled.

In the girls’ 15-18 division, Precious Zaragosa fired an even-par 70 with three birdies and three bogeys to seize an eight-shot lead over Apple Gotiong, who shot a 78.

Lois Lane Go and Mikela Guillermo followed with 80 and 85, respectively.

Only Tashanah Balangauan, who has 42 points, has safely advanced in the division.

Lois Lane Go, who won the previous Bacolod leg, sits at 35 points but remains under pressure.

Zaragosa, who has 27 points, and Gotiong, who has 24, are trying to make late pushes into the South team roster.

“I’m really excited to play in the finals, but I need to win here to secure my slot,” said 15-year-old Zaragosa.

“I didn’t really feel any pressure, and I don’t have massive expectations for the next two rounds,” added Zaragosa. “I just want to have fun and give it my all.”