Oro, Balangauan power way to JPGT Bacolod titles

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BACOLOD CITY – John Rey Oro rolled to a four-stroke victory despite a shaky finish, carding a two-over 72 to turn a tense duel with Mhark Fernando III into a dominant win in the boys’ 15-18 division of the ICTSI Bacolod Junior PGT Championship here on Saturday.

Displaying deep familiarity with the tricky Bacolod Golf and Country Club layout, Oro broke a front-nine deadlock with Fernando and seized full control with a decisive three-shot swing on the dogleg par-4 No. 11, where he tapped in for birdie.

Tied with Oro after 36 holes, Fernando faltered on the back nine, starting with a double bogey on the 11th following an errant drive and a poor approach shot. He then dropped two more strokes on the next hole. From there, Oro took control, coasting to victory despite stumbling with three bogeys over the final four holes.

He closed out the 54-hole tournament with a total score of 218, eight over par.

In the girls’ 15-18 category, Cebu’s Tashanah Balangauan once again showcased her supremacy over Davao’s Precious Zaragosa, completing a 13-shot rout with a 70 for a 212.

Zaragosa, who closed out with a 73, settled for second at 225, while Breanna Rojas placed third with a 253 after a 77.

John Paul Oro, John Rey’s twin, capped his round with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the par-3 18th to card a 75 and edge Fernando for runner-up honors via countback at 222. Fernando closed with a 76 after bogeying the last two holes.

With the win, the Oro twins split top honors in the final two legs of the Visayas-Mindanao series – John Paul having ruled the Negros Occidental leg last Wednesday, where John Rey finished fifth.

“I felt a bit pressured in the last few holes, but I knew I had a big lead, so it was okay,” said John Rey in Filipino, who highlighted his round with a 24-foot birdie putt on No. 5.

“My putting was solid, and my driving and chipping were also on point,” he added.

Despite falling short of the title, Fernando secured a spot in the Elite Junior Finals with 28 points in the final rankings – where only a player’s top three results are counted. He joins Alexis Nailga and Luciano Copok as the Vis-Min representatives in the national finals, slated for Sept. 30–Oct. 3 at The Country Club in Laguna.

The North vs. South Finals is a unique Ryder Cup-style competition that pits the best from Luzon against the top performers from the Visayas and Mindanao series.

Unfortunately, the Oro twins missed the cut for the Finals, having played only two legs – one short of the minimum requirement. Still, their impressive victories were a significant confidence booster as they eye tougher competitions ahead.

The 18-year-old Oro expressed regret over falling short of the criteria to qualify for the Finals.

“It’s really sad – we were just one tournament short,” he said. “That’s why we said we’d make up for it here in Bacolod. We’re just so happy, my brother and I, that we won here.”

In the girls’ division, Balangauan previously staged a comeback win over Zaragosa at the Marapara leg last Wednesday, overturning a two-shot deficit in the final round to win by two. This time, she took control from the opening round and never let up – shooting back-to-back 71s while Zaragosa carded twin 76s to fall behind by 10 after two rounds.

Balangauan, who also topped the Mactan leg, then cruised through the final round, focusing on sharpening her short game and putting under tournament conditions in preparation for the much-awaited finals.

“I’m truly grateful for this experience – it’s humbling, and even more special because I started my JPGT campaign with three straight victories,” said the 16-year-old Balangauan.

“I give all the glory to God for these blessings. This achievement isn’t mine alone; it’s also for everyone who has supported me along the way – my family and my support team,” she added.

John Rey Oro and Balangauan thus joined the roster of winners in the seventh and final leg of the Visayas-Mindanao series, alongside siblings Rafella and Ralph Batican (11-14), and rising stars Ana Marie Aguilar and Lucas Revilleza (7-10).

Rafella clinched the girls’ 11-14 crown to earn the last Finals berth in her category, while Ralph topped the boys’ 11-14 division to likewise advance.

Aguilar and Revilleza emerged as winners in the youngest age bracket, claiming titles in the girls’ and boys’ 7-10 categories, respectively.