Mendoza, Lago dominate 7-10 division as 11-14 bracket heats up ahead of Binitin decider

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BACOLOD CITY – Denise Mendoza reinforced her status as the player to beat in the girls’ 7-10 division, while Ethan Lago pulled through in the boys’ side.

But as both cruised to dominant wins in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Junior PGT Championship on Tuesday, focus is now turning to the surging race for the Elite Junior Finals – particularly in the 11-14 division, where multiple players remain in the hunt ahead of the crucial Binitin leg starting Thursday.

Mendoza, a Cebuana standout, built on her opening-round 72 and never looked back, completing a wire-to-wire triumph in the 36-hole tournament with a 70 for a 142 total at the par-70 Marapara course here. She widened her 16-shot overnight lead to 27 strokes at the turn, eventually sealing a 33-shot victory over Ana Marie Aguilar (87-175), with Faith Reosura (99-189) rounding out the podium.

The win, worth 15 points, hiked Mendoza’s total to 45, enough to unseat erstwhile series leader Soleil Molde (42) atop the rankings. With her third win following earlier victories in Mactan and Apo, Mendoza is now firmly qualified for the Elite Junior Finals scheduled for Sept. 30–Oct. 3 at The Country Club.

“My putting was much better today – I felt more confident,” said 10-year-old Mendoza. “Considering how I played yesterday, I’m satisfied with how I performed today.”

Still, she emphasized the importance of improving her consistency. “I think I just need to keep working on consistency so I can perform well in every tournament,” added the rising star from Cebu, who rated her game this week an 8 out of 10. “There are definitely areas where I could’ve done better.”

In the boys’ youngest category, Lago capped off an impressive campaign with a nine-stroke triumph over fellow Davaoeño Lucas Revilleza despite a 76, as he pooled a 146. Revilleza faltered with a 79 for second at 158.

James Rolida of Cagayan de Oro placed third with a 170 after an 87, Tobias Tiongko shot an 86 for 182, and Shaqeeq Tanog struggled with a 96 for fifth at 183.

Lago, meanwhile, celebrated his second JPGT win following an 11-shot triumph in Mactan. “It feels great. I’m really happy about it,” he said.

The fiercest action, however, may be coming in the 11-14 age group, where a high-stakes scramble is set to unfold in Binitin as players battle for the final four spots in both boys’ and girls’ classes of the JPGT Visayas-Mindanao series.

Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican delivered a powerful statement with a 72-141 to clinch the Negros leg via a 35-shot romp over Miguel Mesina, surging from No. 8 to No. 4 in the rankings. His victory, paired with an earlier win in Mactan, gave him 30 points, just enough to edge past Mico Woo (22) for the fourth spot heading into Binitin.

Mesina carded an 85 for a 176, while Isaac Locsin placed third in the Negros leg with a 181 total after a 93.

With only a few points separating the mid-tier contenders, Batican’s position is far from secure. He’ll need at least a podium finish to hold off potential surges from Woo and other lurking competitors.

Still, he expressed confidence heading into the Finals but stressed the importance of preparation. “I’m ready for the Finals, but preparation is key. I need to practice hard,” said Batican, who highlighted his round with back-to-back birdies on holes No. 7 and 8.

A shake-up remains highly possible. Ken Guillermo (42), Jared Saban (40), and Marcus Dueñas (36) still need to guard their spots against a hungry field with nothing to lose in Binitin.

In the girls’ 11-14 group, Zuri Bagaloyos from Singapore School Cebu staged an impressive comeback to clinch her first win in four JPGT tournaments this year, rallying from three strokes down to secure a memorable victory with a 73 for a 149.

Bagaloyos had previously placed second in Mactan, third at South Pacific, and fourth at Apo – each performance edging her closer to the top spot.

“It feels good,” said Bagaloyos, reflecting on her five-stroke win over Rafella Batican. She credited her improved long game for the turnaround. “My drives were very bad on the first day, but they got better today,” she added.

Despite a shaky start, Bagaloyos stayed mentally strong throughout the final round. “I really didn’t expect to win,” she said. “But I learned that even if your game starts out badly, you just have to stay focused – there are still so many holes to play.”

With 37 points, Bagaloyos has now climbed to third in the overall rankings. She remains determined to perform well in the upcoming leg at Binitin, aiming to secure her spot in the JPGT Finals.

Rafella Batican, who led in the first round with a 73, faltered with an 81 to settle for second at 154, while Andrea Borromeo finished third at 163 after an 83.

The setback stalled Batican’s charge, as she could only pool 20 points heading to Binitin. With a possible 15 points at stake in the final leg, multiple scenarios are still in play.

The final leg at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Murcia, known for its tight fairways and punishing roughs, is expected to test both patience and precision. For players in contention, there’s no room for error. A single poor round could mean missing out on the Elite Junior Finals.

With the top four in each division advancing, the Binitin leg promises intense battles across all age groups, but none more compelling than the brewing storm in the 11-14 category.

Meanwhile, the boys’ 15-18 division braces for a thrilling finish as Bacolod’s John Paul Oro held his ground despite a shaky 75, maintaining a five-stroke lead with a 145 total. New challenger Mhark Fernando III surged into contention with a solid 74, climbing to solo second at 150.

Azie Acuña IV remained in the hunt after carding a second straight 76 for a 152, while early contender and finalist Alexis Nailga slipped to fourth after struggling with a 78, dropping to 153. John Rey Oro, meanwhile, faded from contention after an 84 left him at 160.

Despite a commanding lead, Oro vowed to stay aggressive in the final 18 holes. “Driving is important, and the second shot really has to land on the green,” said Oro, who pooled a 145 after a 75.

Following a gritty 70 on Monday, Oro admitted he struggled throughout the next round – including a costly stretch of four straight bogeys starting on No. 14. “I struggled with my irons and putting. Most of my shots were just pin-high, but I couldn’t convert the pars,” he said.

Precious Zaragosa turned in a tournament-best 68 to overtake overnight leader Tashanah Balangauan, seizing a two-stroke lead in the girls’ 15-18 division with a 145 aggregate after two rounds.

The impressive showing marked a strong rebound from her opening-round 77, with Zaragosa crediting her vastly improved short game for the dramatic turnaround. “My putting was a lot better today – I sank some long putts,” Zaragosa said. “I didn’t expect to shoot under par since my game plan was just to hit fairways and greens.”

Asked what it would take to secure the title, she added: “Para manalo, kung sino maganda ang short game.” (To win, it all comes down to who has the better short game.)

Despite slipping to second place, Balangauan – the Mactan leg winner – remained optimistic. Her second-round 74 gave her a 36-hole total of 147, keeping her well within striking distance heading into the final round.

Breanna Rojas sat in distant third at 192 after carding a 97.