Mendoza, Barnes Dominate JPGT South Pacific Leg

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DAVAO CITY – Denise Mendoza cooled off after a blistering opening round but still cruised to a commanding 32-stroke win in the girls 7-10 division of the ICTSI South Pacific Junior PGT Championship on Thursday.

Following a remarkable opening-round 64 highlighted by eight backside birdies, the 10-year-old Cebuana shot a 77 but still finished with a 36-hole total of 3-under 141 at the tough South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates layout.

With a 23-shot lead entering the final round, Mendoza played pressure-free golf, using the final 18 holes to work on her yardage control, putting and shot selection for future events.

She tallied just two birdies against seven bogeys in humid conditions—far from her 11-birdie explosion the day before—but it was more than enough to outclass Del Monte leg winner Soleil Molde by 32 shots.

Despite her margin, Mendoza admitted feeling some nerves.

“I just tried to stay calm, and my dad comforted me,” she said.

After mastering South Pacific’s tricky greens on Wednesday, she struggled with the putter in the final round but still capped her campaign with style, converting a potential lost-ball scenario on No. 18 into a birdie.

“It took a while before we found the ball within the time limit,” said Mendoza, who credited her short game for the win.

“I had a lot of short putts that helped me secure the victory.”

The Cebu Learning Center standout more than doubled her previous best, a 15-shot triumph over Sistine Yu in the Mactan leg last May.

Molde salvaged some momentum with a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 17th en route to an 86 and a 173 finish.

Francesca Geroy placed third with a 93 for a 184 total.

Sharing the spotlight was Cagayan de Oro’s Jamie Barnes, who extended his unbeaten run in the boys 7-10 division by securing his third straight win in dominant fashion.

After previous wins at Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro, the nine-year-old phenom routed Cebu’s Kvan Alburo by 14 shots with a 144 total after carding a 73.

Barnes stumbled with two early bogeys but recovered with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6 for a 35-38 round.

Alburo, last year’s Match Play champion, fired a 78 to finish second at 158, while Miguel Revilleza slipped to third with an 82 for a 161.

Barnes said the win was his toughest yet.

“I’m not used to playing this kind of course,” he said, citing tricky pins and sloping greens.

In the girls 11-14 division, South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo clinched her second Vis-Min leg title with a closing 76 for a 145 total, edging Del Monte leg winner Kimberly Baroquillo by three strokes.

Baroquillo trimmed a seven-shot deficit with three birdies in her first 10 holes but stalled with a bogey on No. 11, settling for a 72 and a 148.

Zuri Bagaloyos shot a 75 to place third at 153.

Tamayo, who struggled with her putting, leaned on her overnight lead to hold off Baroquillo’s late charge.

“The biggest lessons I learned this week are to focus, visualize, and just enjoy the game,” said the 13-year-old Homeschool Global student, who nearly aced No. 5 for her lone birdie.

South Cotabato’s sweep of the 11-14 titles was completed by Jared Saban, who delivered a final-round 72 for a 146 total to win the boys division by nine strokes.

Saban, son of touring pro Elmer Saban, birdied Nos. 1 and 12 to offset bogeys on Nos. 4 and 17 for his breakthrough win after back-to-back third-place finishes in Mactan and Del Monte.

He skipped the Pueblo de Oro leg.

Ken Guillermo, winner at Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro, settled for second after a 77 for a 155 total.

Marcus Dueñas shot a 78 to grab third at 158, while Guio Pasquil finished fourth with an 83 for a 160.

In the premier 15-18 division, runaway wins also appear likely after the leaders pulled away from the field.

Davao’s Adrian Bisera erased a three-shot deficit with a brilliant 3-under 69 to seize the boys division lead heading into the final round of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Bisera’s round featured an eagle-3 on the par-5 No. 2 and birdies from Nos. 7 to 12, offsetting bogeys on Nos. 6 and 14 for a 34-35 finish.

He overtook AJ Wacan, who tumbled to third with a 78 for a 150 total after opening with a 72.

Cagayan de Oro’s Armand Copok stepped into the challenger role with a 72 for a 149 total, five behind Bisera.

Copok, who placed third at Del Monte and second at Pueblo de Oro, rallied with an eagle-2 on No. 6 and birdies on Nos. 7, 8 and 12 after double bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5, before closing with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 for a 35-37 card.

Vince Naranjo climbed to fourth with a 71 for a 152 total, eight shots off the lead.

In the girls division, Crista Miñoza moved closer to a breakthrough win with a one-under 71 for a 148 total and a five-shot lead entering the final round.

The Bukidnon native, who placed third in Mactan and posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro, birdied Nos. 4 and 9 to overcome bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17.

Overnight co-leader Merry Rose Wacan faltered with three bogeys and a double on the front nine and finished with a 77 for a 154 total.

Del Monte leg winner Zero Plete rebounded from an 86 with a 74 to remain a distant third at 160.