Sarines, Padilla Seal Junior Golf Titles

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Lisa Sarines sank a clutch birdie on No. 8 to pull away from Johanna Uyking and clinch a two-stroke victory in the girls’ 13-14 division of the Uswing Mojing Junior World Qualifying at The Country Club on Friday.

Sarines closed with a 79 for a 54-hole total of 232, besting Uyking, who carded an 82 for 234 in a thrilling final-round duel marked by grit and momentum swings.

Uyking’s birdie on No. 7 pulled her into a tie at 16-over, setting up a high-stakes showdown at the par-5 No. 8, where she had previously birdied in the first two rounds.

But Sarines came through under pressure, hitting a solid approach and converting the birdie as Uyking missed a tying putt.

Sarines then parred the ninth to seal the win, while Uyking bogeyed in a last-ditch attempt to force a playoff.

Mona Sarines (78–242) and Precious Zaragosa (85–251) completed the top four, earning Junior World berths in San Diego this July, though only Lisa Sarines earned the coveted free airfare awarded to division champions.

In the boys’ 15-18 division, Tristan Padilla outlasted Shinichi Suzuki in a sudden-death playoff, clinching victory with a routine par on their return to No. 18.

Padilla, who held a five-shot lead entering the final round, faltered late with an 83, allowing Suzuki (78) to catch him at 235 and force a playoff.

Suzuki missed a long par attempt after chipping past the hole by five paces, while Padilla calmly rolled in the winner from six feet.

Patrick Tambalque (78) and Emilio Hernandez (83) tied for third at 240, securing the final Junior World spots in the division.

Padilla had earlier pulled ahead with birdies on Nos. 7, 9, and 14, before crumbling late with a double bogey on No. 16, another on No. 17, and a bogey on the 18th.

Suzuki closed with a steady two-over stretch in the last four holes to stay in contention.

In the girls’ 15-18 division, Reese Ng fended off a determined challenge from Alessandra Luciano to secure victory in the girls’ 15-18 category, overcoming a series of bogeys down the stretch to win by four strokes with a 242 total after an 82.

Ng, who held a two-shot lead entering the round, steadied her game on the front nine after matching Luciano’s 40 on the back.

Luciano tied the lead with Ng’s bogey on No. 1 but slipped with a double bogey on the par-3 third, which Ng parred, regaining a two-stroke cushion she would not relinquish.

Luciano finished with an 83 for 245, while Anya Cedo (82) placed third at 246.
Ally Gaccion claimed the last Junior World spot with a fourth-place finish at 247 after shooting an 84.

The tournament, backed by the National Golf Association, MVP Sports Foundation, The Country Club, ICTSI, PLDT, and the Junior PGT, served as a critical warm-up for the 15-leg Junior Philippine Golf Tour season starting next month at Eagle Ridge.

World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points were also at stake, adding weight to the competition.

In the boys’ 13-14 division, Ralph Batican coasted to an 11-shot win despite a final-round 83, finishing with a 238 total.

The Del Monte standout, who led by 10 entering the round, birdied the first hole
before encountering a rough patch, dropping eight strokes over the next six holes.

Still, with no serious threat from his pursuers, Batican pulled away again with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 and finished with a 43-40 card.

Mico Ungco rallied with an 80 to snatch runner-up honors at 249, while Edoc and Teves pooled 251 and 252 after 83 and 87, respectively.