Nailga, Plete Clinch Titles at JPGT Del Monte

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BUKIDNON – Alexis Nailga and Zero Plete delivered clutch performances in the boys and girls 15-18 divisions, respectively, to salvage home pride Friday after earlier setbacks in the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship.

The local bets rose to the occasion when it mattered most, overcoming shaky final rounds to complete wire-to-wire victories with scores of 75 and 77.

Their triumphs showcased local talent and prevented a winless start for the hosts in the kickoff leg of the Mindanao swing of the Visayas-Mindanao Series.

Nailga, who carried a three-shot lead into the final round of the 54-hole championship, overcame early struggles—a double bogey on No. 2 and a bogey on No. 3—that allowed fellow Bukidnon bet Clement Ordeneza to pull even at 1-over overall.

But Ordeneza faltered with a double bogey on the fifth, and Nailga regained a one-stroke advantage at the turn, which he preserved with clutch pars down the stretch.

Nailga, 16, capped his campaign with a birdie on the final hole, finishing with a 3-over 217 total to beat Ordeneza by three strokes.

Ordeneza, the 2023 JPGT Match Play champion, faded early on the back nine with two bogeys and settled for a string of pars to close with a 75 and a 220 total.

“It was a close fight after my early struggles, but I managed to stay composed the rest of the way,” said Nailga, whose birdie on the 18th capped another victorious campaign.

“It feels great to score back-to-back wins,” he added.

“I also learned how to stay composed under pressure, but that birdie on the last hole was the highlight of my round—I hit a solid drive, followed it with a strong second shot, and drained a 24-footer.”

Armand Copok carded a 73 to grab third at 226, edging Vince Naranjo, who also had a 226 after a 74, via countback.

The win gave Nailga back-to-back titles, following his dominant Visayas Series win last month in Mactan, and solidified his status as one of the tour’s rising stars.

Earlier, Plete matched Nailga’s wire-to-wire feat despite a shaky finish, closing with a 77 after back-to-back 75s.

She sealed the victory with a clutch chip-in that set up a tap-in par on the par-5 18th, edging fellow Bukidnon native Crista Miñoza by one stroke with a 227 total.

Plete, who held a commanding seven-shot lead entering the final round, saw her cushion shrink to one heading into the last hole.

After falling short with her third shot, she calmly chipped to within two feet, securing a dramatic win in the girls’ premier division of the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Miñoza mounted a valiant rally, hitting her approach left of the pin on the final hole for a chance at birdie, but settled for par and a 71 for a 228 total—one shot shy of forcing a playoff.

After early rounds of 81 and 76, Miñoza surged with a three-birdie run from No. 3 and assumed the role of Plete’s top challenger.

As Plete bogeyed two of her first five holes, Miñoza crept within two strokes.

Despite back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8, she kept the pressure with steady pars on the back nine, trimming the gap to one as Plete dropped three more strokes coming home.

But Plete’s timely chip-in and Miñoza’s missed birdie bid sealed a comeback win for the former, marking a triumphant return after a long absence from the junior circuit.

“There was pressure, especially since Crista played really well today,” said Plete, who was in position for a birdie after a solid drive and a superb second shot from 45 yards to the green.

“But I chunked it and was left with just 10 yards to the green,” she added.

“Thankfully, I managed to one-putt to seal the win.”

Plete said the hard-earned win was a huge morale boost heading into the next leg of the Mindanao Series at Pueblo de Oro.

“It’s a great feeling to win—it definitely boosted my confidence,” she said.

“But at the same time, I also feel a bit of pressure heading into the next leg.”

Davao’s Precious Zaragosa faltered with a 74 and finished third at 229.

Nailga and Plete’s victories capped a week of front-running performances, showcasing not only depth of talent but also the winners’ mental toughness and strong form.

The 1-2 finishes in both premier divisions also offset Del Monte’s missed chances in the 7-10 and 11-14 categories.

Davao’s Soleil Molde and Kimberly Baroquillo earlier set the tone with runaway victories in the girls 7-10 and 11-14 divisions, respectively.

On the boys side, Cagayan de Oro’s Jamie Barnes and Ken Guillermo also won their age divisions, completing a rare sweep of wire-to-wire wins across all groups.

The next leg of the Mindanao swing will be held at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro from July 1 to 3.

For details and registration, contact PGTI operations manager Jhi Mercado at +63 928 316 5678 or Sheila Salvania at +63 968 311 4101.