Tambalque edges Suzuki; Sison dominates JPGT Riviera

SILANG, Cavite – Patrick Tambalque held off a late charge from Shinichi Suzuki to secure a tense, one-stroke victory in the boys’ 15-18 division, while Gabriela Sison clinched a breakthrough win in the girls’ side despite a shaky final round in the ICTSI Riviera Golf Junior PGT Championship on Thursday.

Tambalque, winner at Sherwood Hills and Caliraya Springs, opened with three bogeys on the front nine of Riviera’s Couples course but regained control with steady pars starting on No. 7 as Suzuki mounted a rally with a 37 at the turn.

Their title duel turned into virtual match play down the stretch.

Suzuki trimmed the deficit to one at the turn but faltered with three bogeys from Nos. 11 to 13, allowing Tambalque to rebuild a three-shot lead with five holes remaining.

Tambalque then bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18, giving Suzuki a chance to force a playoff.

But Suzuki, who closed with five consecutive pars, missed birdie chances on the final two holes.

Tambalque carded a six-over 78 for a 10-over 226 total, edging Suzuki’s closing 76 and 227 aggregate for his third win in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized series.

“I got nervous stepping onto the 18th tee,” said Tambalque. “There was noise behind me as I took my shot, and it went into a hazard.”

Tambalque’s 15-point haul raised his total to 45 points, virtually securing a spot in the Elite Junior Finals set for Oct. 7-10 at The Country Club in Laguna.

With Suzuki hitting a solid drive and lining up a 20-yard approach on the par-4 closing hole, Tambalque, who bogeyed the 17th to see his lead cut to two, overshot his third shot.

When Suzuki missed a birdie putt from pin-high, Tambalque recovered and tapped in for bogey.

“Nung na-miss niya yung birdie putt sa last hole, ginanahan na ako,” said Tambalque, who earlier capitalized on Suzuki’s miscue on No. 11 and a three-putt on No. 12 to restore a three-stroke cushion.

Asked about the biggest takeaway, he said: “Just stay positive and focused, stick to the game plan, and keep things simple.”

Suzuki, the Splendido leg winner and Eagle Ridge runner-up, lamented the costly back-nine stretch but remained upbeat after nearly forcing a playoff.

Zachary Villaroman, who entered the Riviera leg as division leader, dropped to second in the overall standings with 40 points after placing fourth with a 79-237 and earning eight points.

Suzuki stayed in third overall with 39 points.

Kristoffer Nadales kept his Finals hopes alive despite missing the first three legs.

He posted a 75 to finish third at 233, boosting his total to 22 points, including a runner-up finish at Caliraya Springs.

With two legs remaining — Pradera Verde in Pampanga and Pinewoods in Baguio — Nadales remains in contention for a backdoor finals berth.

In the girls’ division, Sison overcame an 85 to claim her first title in the ICTSI-backed series, dominating a final round that tested nerves and consistency.

After earlier rounds of 89 and 93, the 16-year-old Kingwood High School (Texas) student closed with an 85 for a 266 total and a 10-shot win over Chloe Rada.

Rada turned in an 89 to finish second at 276, as early contenders Angelica Bañez and Tiffany Bernardino skipped the final round.

Their absence allowed Ayesha Salino to secure third with a 123 and 365 total.

“My woods and short game were really good today — a big improvement from Day 1, which gave me a lot of trouble,” said Sison, who returns to the U.S. in August to resume her studies.

While grateful for the win, she admitted some regret at not playing with Rada and Bernardino.

“I like staying in my own head most of the time, but I did miss them. I really wished they had played with us,” she said.

“But honestly, it was a little bit easier without them,” she added.

Her takeaway from the event: “Just keep a positive mindset, and adjust to the wind — it’s not as windy back in the U.S.”

Tambalque and Sison joined Zoji and Zianbeau Edoc (7-10 and 11-14), Ronee Dungca (7-10), and Mona Sarines (11-14) on the winners’ podium of the fifth leg of the seven-stage Luzon tour.

The ICTSI-sponsored series will culminate in a Ryder Cup-style finale, where the top four from each Luzon age-group category will compete against the best from the Visayas-Mindanao series.

Rafa Anciano has virtually clinched the first Finals berth with 45 points, followed by Levonne Talion with 39.

Rada moved to third with 30 points after her second-place finish, while Bernardino and Bañez remained at fourth and fifth with 18 and 12 points, respectively.

The penultimate leg will be held at Pradera Verde on Aug. 12-14, with the Luzon series wrapping up at Pinewoods on Aug. 19-21.