Fierce battles loom as JPGT Luzon culminates at John Hay

1 of 2

BAGUIO CITY — The final leg of the seven-stage ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series unfolds today, Tuesday, Aug. 19, at John Hay Golf Club, with dramatic finishes and last-ditch bids expected as players chase the final spots for the Elite Junior Finals.

Only the top four players in each division will advance to the season finale, set for Oct. 7–10 at The Country Club in Laguna.

With points tightly contested in several divisions, the race is wide open—setting up an intense final push on this short but challenging mountain-top layout.

In the girls’ 7–10 division, all eyes are on Ronee Dungca, who has made a remarkable late-season surge.

After missing the first four legs, she clinched back-to-back wins at Riviera and Pradera Verde to tie Penelope Sy at fifth with 30 points.

Another win today could complete her stunning comeback and secure a spot in the finals.

Mavis Espedido (45) and Winter Serapio (37) have already clinched finals berths, while others are still fighting for rankings that could affect team selection.

In the boys’ 7–10 division, Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc are tied at 45 points, with Asher Abad (34) and Halo Pangilinan (34) seeking to hold off Kingston Ching (20), who needs a win and favorable results to qualify.

The boys’ 11–14 bracket sees Ryuji Suzuki (42) and Vito Sarines (39) nearly locked in, but four players are battling for the final two spots: Jacob Casuga (35), Race Manhit (34), Zianbeau Edoc (30), and Ryuichi Tao (26).

In the girls’ 11–14 division, twins Mona and Lisa Sarines are comfortably through with 45 points each.

The final two slots remain contested by Kendra Garingalao (32), Alexie Gabi (26), and two players tied at 22—Eliana Dumalaog and Marqaela Dy.

In the girls’ 15–18 category, Rafa Anciano (45) and Levonne Talion (39) are safely through.

Chloe Rada (32), Tiffany Bernardino (30), and Angelica Bañez (20) are in a tight battle for the final spots, with no margin for error.

In the boys’ premier division, Jose Carlos Taruc (30) is eyeing a breakthrough, currently ranked fifth.

His chances improved after Kristoffer Nadales (32), the current No. 4, withdrew due to prior commitments.

That leaves the top three—Patrick Tambalque (45), Shinichi Suzuki (39), and Zachary Villaroman (37)—in strong position heading into the final round.

The par-69 John Hay course is more than scenic—it’s strategic.

With narrow fairways, doglegs, undulating greens, and drastic elevation changes, precision and course management are essential.

Its short length may seem forgiving, but even slight lapses in focus can lead to costly double bogeys or worse.

As the Luzon leg of the nationwide series wraps up, young golfers will need to manage not just the course but the mental weight of a season’s worth of effort hanging in the balance.

For many, this tournament marks the culmination of months of travel and preparation in pursuit of a dream.

The stakes couldn’t be higher.

Only the top four players in each division—with at least three tournaments played—will form the North squad for the Elite Junior Finals.

There, they’ll face the best from Visayas and Mindanao in a Ryder Cup–style format, combining individual performance and team strategy in one of junior golf’s most thrilling showdowns.