Quiño, Barnes, Guillermo Shine in Junior Golf Tourney

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CAGAYAN DE ORO – Bukidnon’s Claren Quiño rose to the occasion under final-round pressure to capture the girls 7-10 division title in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Junior PGT Championship, despite a closing-round 84 on Wednesday.

Quiño held her composure in tough conditions at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club, finishing with a 36-hole total of 165 to edge out hometown bets Francesca Geroy and Abby Qiu.

Despite six bogeys and three double bogeys in her 12-over round, Quiño’s performance broke the expected Cagayan de Oro sweep after their strong Day 1 showing.

“I was happy but nervous when I took the lead,” said Quiño, 9, of Del Monte School.

“On No. 9, I got a bit cheeky since my friends were watching.”

Quiño said the experience taught her a key lesson: never give up.

Her resolve proved crucial as Qiu charged with an 83 but came up short at 168.

Geroy, aiming to rebound from a third-place finish in the Del Monte leg, carded two birdies but faltered with a 92 to settle for third at 172.

Quiño’s win underscored Bukidnon’s rising junior golf presence, challenging CDO’s traditional Mindanao dominance.

Earlier, CDO’s Jamie Barnes made it two-for-two in his Junior PGT debut, clinching the boys 7-10 title with rounds of 71 and 78 for a 149 total.

Barnes was headed for another under-par round but slipped with two front-nine and four back-nine bogeys to finish with a 78.

Still, it was enough to distance Davao’s Miguel Revilleza, who matched his 78 for a 158 total.

“I played okay but my putting wasn’t so good again,” said Barnes.

“It doesn’t matter what the score is – you just have to have fun.”

Shaqeeq Tanog, who challenged early, faded with an 84 and finished third at 163.

In the girls 11-14 division, Margaux Espina fired an 84 for a 165 total, cruising past Bukidnon’s Angel Wahing by 13 strokes.

Wahing closed with a 91 for 178, while Yvonne Colim placed third at 180 after a 93.

Espina, 12, said her driving, woods, and pitching clicked throughout.

“Every time I had a bad shot, my pitching would help me save par,” she said.

She credited her parents and grandparents for their support, adding, “They’ve taught me a lot and really want me to win.”

Espina added, “It’s okay to have a bad shot as long as you recover on the next holes.”

CDO’s Ken Guillermo also went back-to-back, topping the boys 11-14 category with a 144 total after a final-round 74.

He beat fellow CDO player Marcus Dueñas by 10 strokes.

Dueñas, who also placed second at Del Monte, carded a second straight 77 for a 154 total.

Blademher Estologa took third with a 161 after an 83.

Guillermo said he felt more relieved than excited.

“There wasn’t much of a highlight since it was just par golf,” said the Xavier U–Ateneo de Cagayan standout.

“I made two bogeys, but at least I won.”

“I’m really proud of myself,” he added.

“I practiced hard for two weeks non-stop – it was worth the grind.”

Meanwhile, Ally Gaccion moved closer to the girls 15-18 crown after a strong 71 gave her a two-shot lead at 143 over first-round co-leader Crista Miñoza.

Gaccion, a former JPGT Match Play Finals winner, used her course familiarity to break away.

Del Monte leg champion Zero Plete made a late surge with three birdies from No. 15, carding an even-par 72 to sit solo second at 145.

Miñoza, who settled for a 74, fell to third at 146.

The final round promises a tight finish as players chase points for the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior Finals in October.

In the boys 15-18 class, Alexis Nailga remained on track for a third straight leg win despite cooling off with a 77, bringing his total to 148.

Bukidnon’s Clement Ordeneza, last year’s Match Play Finals champ, overcame a shaky 43 start and rallied with a 37 to post an 80 for a 152 total.

Fawzi Espinosa shot a 77 to claim solo third at 153.

Mhark Fernando III slipped with an 81 and dropped into a tie for fourth with Korea’s Eric Jeon, who shot an even-par 72, both at 154.