Ong, Aguilar clinch Junior PGT finals berths

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BACOLOD City — Darren Ong and Ana Marie Aguilar delivered late charges to secure their spots in the Junior PGT Elite Finals, ruling the ICTSI Negros JPGT Championship in contrasting but equally decisive fashion at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Tuesday.

The Junior PGT calendar lists the 2026 ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT Finals on Aug. 17 to 20 at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro, where Visayas-Mindanao standouts will face their North counterparts in a Ryder Cup-style format.

Ong turned the final round of the boys’ 7-10 division into a victory lap after building a 14-stroke lead in Monday’s opening round.

He slowed down with an 80 in scorching conditions after a 76 but still won by 22 strokes with a 156 total over 36 holes.

Anthony Avila carded an 88 to finish a distant second at 178, while Joaquin Limjap took third with a 199 after a 98.

Ong’s dominant performance moved him from No. 6 to No. 4 in the Visayas-Mindanao Series rankings.

With 35 points across the six-stage circuit, Ong dislodged the absent Thomas Ngo, who had 26 points, to claim the fourth and final qualifying spot.

Ong joined Ethan Lago, Stephen Clementer, and Lucas Revilleza in the South’s youngest squad, which will battle the North side from Aug. 17 to 20 at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.

“I’m so excited to play in the grand finals. I’m going to practice hard to turn my weaknesses into strengths, but my goal is to keep playing pressure-free,” said the nine-year-old Ong.

“Everything just clicked today, especially my chipping and putting, though I still feel like I could’ve done better,” he added.

Looking ahead to the team format, Ong promised to energize the lineup: “I’m ready to bring good vibes, high energy and strong cooperation to the South team.”

While Ong coasted, hometown bet Aguilar had to grind out her victory in the girls’ youngest category.

Trailing Vanya Go by two strokes entering the final 18 holes, Aguilar locked into a high-stakes showdown that came down to the wire.

The momentum first swung in Aguilar’s favor around the turn.

Go, who looked steady early, suffered back-to-back triple bogeys starting on No. 9.

Despite Aguilar opening her back nine with consecutive bogeys, Go’s miscues allowed the local favorite to wrest the lead.

The drama was far from over.

On No. 14, Aguilar stumbled with a triple bogey of her own, allowing Go to reclaim a one-stroke advantage and setting up a dramatic finish with two holes left.

On the par-4 17th, with the championship hanging in the balance, Aguilar showed poise by setting up a pin-high putt and draining a crucial birdie.

The pressure shifted to Go, whose three-putt miscue led to a decisive two-shot swing that pushed Aguilar back in front.

On the closing par-5 18th, Aguilar matched Go’s par to secure a gritty one-stroke victory with a final-round 82 and a 158 total.

The triumph capped a strong two-week run for Aguilar, who also dominated the Bacolod leg in Murcia last week.

Go wound up with an 85 for a 159, while Jia Ho carded an 81 to tie Zoey Mascariñas, who faltered with an 84, at 165.

“I definitely felt the pressure when I fell one or two down, but I just stayed confident and focused on my game,” said the 10-year-old Aguilar from St. Scholastica’s Academy-Bacolod.

Relying on her irons, precise chipping, and solid bunker play to stay in contention, Aguilar said she was relieved and excited for the next stage.

“I’m so happy to qualify for the finals. Next, I really want to sharpen my chipping and putting to help the South team. I think the best way I can support my teammates is by continuing to elevate my own game,” she said.

Aguilar’s back-to-back victories yielded a major point haul, vaulting her from No. 5 to No. 2 in the final standings with 40 points.

She joined top-ranked Soleil Molde, who had 42 points, and the resilient Go, who had 39 points, in the finals in Cagayan de Oro.

Aguilar’s late-season surge, however, brought heartbreak for Mascariñas.

Mascariñas settled for eight points to end the series with 30.

Aguilar’s sudden rise pushed Mascariñas out of the Magic Four, leaving her in fifth place overall.

Ironically, the absent Akeisha Yocte safely held on to the fourth and final ticket with 33 points.

Cebu’s Marqaela Dy shot a 76 for a 150 total to top the girls’ 11-14 division and advance to the grand finals.

Dy finished two shots clear of Kimberly Barroquillo, who carded a 75 for a 152 total, while Andrea Borromeo secured third at 153 after a 78.

With her third leg win, including victories in Mactan and Alta Vista, Dy amassed 45 total points to clinch the division’s top spot.

Brittany Tamayo and Rafelle Batican finished second and third with 40 and 39 points, respectively.

Zuri Bagaloyos secured the final qualifying spot despite skipping the final leg, holding off Barroquillo’s last-ditch bid of 32 points.

“The pressure was definitely there, especially heading into the final round knowing what was at stake to make the cut,” said the 13-year-old Dy, who closed in style with back-to-back birdies from No. 8. “But now I’m just incredibly excited and relieved. This is my first time making the finals, and I can’t wait to compete in Cagayan de Oro.”

To prepare for the championship, Dy said she is shifting her focus inward while preparing to anchor her squad.

“I’m going to practice hard, but I’m putting a major emphasis on toughening up my mental game. More than anything, I want to be a supportive teammate and a great friend to everyone out there.”

In the boys’ 11-14 division, Cagayan de Oro standout Ken Guillermo primed up for the finals by staging a thrilling comeback.

Trailing by two strokes early, Guillermo closed with a 79 at the par-70 layout to finish with a 164, securing a two-shot victory and his second leg win after his triumph at Alta Vista.

Isaac Locsin settled for second at 166 after a 79, while first-round leader Jordino Mesina tumbled to third at 167 after a tough final-round 86.

With 42 points, Guillermo will lead the South team with Jared Saban, who had 39 points, Ralph Batican, who had 37, and Mico Woo, who had 35.

“I did fine out there. I felt a lot of pressure, especially on the back nine, because one of my rivals was catching up,” Guillermo said.

“I’m excited for the finals, and I’m sure we can do better than last time,” he added, referring to the South team’s loss to the North in their Ryder Cup-style duel at The Country Club last year. “I will prepare mentally and physically and hope to help the team.”

In the premier 15-18 division, which is set over 54 holes, Precious Zaragosa stayed in control in the girls’ category despite a 77.

Zaragosa’s gutsy opening 70 gave her a 147 aggregate, keeping her eight strokes clear of Apple Gotiong, who also shot a 77 for a 155 total.

Lois Laine Go fell further back into third at 163 after an 83, while Mikela Guillermo remained fourth at 172 after an 87.

While positioning herself for back-to-back victories after her recent win at Pueblo de Oro, Zaragosa also moved closer to formalizing her stint in the grand finals.

Zaragosa entered the week at No. 5 in the rankings after five legs with 27 points, and a victory in Negros would give her 15 points to boost her total to 42.

Tashanah Balangauan has already secured the first finals slot with 42 points.

The remaining three spots are up for grabs among Bacolod leg winner Go with 35 points, Guillermo with 28, the absent Zero Plete with 27, and Gotiong with 24.

In the boys’ 15-18 division, Sebastian Sajuela and Clement Ordeneza set up a final-round shootout.

Sajuela surged into the lead with a 74 for a 149 total, grabbing a one-stroke lead over Ordeneza, who slipped to a 150 after a 77.

Eddie Gutierrez Jr. carded a 77 to join Ritchie Go, who wavered with a 79, in third at 156.

In the overall standings, three-leg winner Alexis Nailga will spearhead the premier division into the grand finals.

Mhark Fernando with 33 points, Sajuela with 31, and Ordeneza with 30 are well-positioned to claim the next three spots.

Former No. 5 Roman Tiongko dropped to seventh at 161 after a rough 85, with Inno Flores at 157 and Seth Santos at 159 grabbing fifth and sixth places, respectively.