Taruc, Anciano secure JPGT Finals berths

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite — Jakob Taruc completed an improbable late charge in the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series, winning the ICTSI Eagle Ridge JPGT Championship on Friday at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course to secure a place in the Elite Finals.

Taruc closed with a 2-under 70, his best round of the tournament, after firing three birdies against two bogeys on the front nine and adding two more birdies against one bogey on the back nine.

The strong finish gave Taruc a 3-over 219 total and an 11-stroke victory over Harry Sales, capping a dramatic turnaround in the six-leg, three-month regional series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Sales, who led after the opening round before a 79 on Thursday gave Taruc the lead, made another early push with a birdie on the par-5 third hole for the third straight day.

Sales faded midway through the round and settled for a 77 and a 230 total.

Lujo Gomez carded a 76 to finish third at 231.

“Reaching the finals wasn’t originally part of my plan, so being here feels like a true blessing. Heading into Beverly Place, I was struggling with self-doubt because my game wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be – but I could feel it coming together,” said Taruc in overcoming doubt and finding his swing.

“After two rounds at Beverly, my confidence started to return. By the time I arrived at Eagle Ridge, I felt good about my game because my swing was locked in and everything was just working perfectly,” he added.

Taruc’s victory at Eagle Ridge followed his win at Beverly Place, giving him back-to-back victories in the final two Luzon legs.

The surge proved decisive after Taruc earned only one point in the opening leg at Mount Malarayat and skipped the next three Luzon stops because of previous commitments.

His finals hopes reopened after a contender failed to meet the minimum three-tournament appearance requirement.

Taruc finished with 31 points, enough to claim the final North boys’ 15-18 berth.

He will join Tristan Padilla, Shinichi Suzuki and Geoffrey Tan in a North team set to face the South lineup of Alexis Nailga, Sebastian Sajuela, Clement Ordeneza and Mhark Fernando III.

“This victory proved to me that I am truly capable of going low. It gave me the validation I needed. Moving forward, I just have to trust myself and my abilities,” said Taruc. “I feel ready for the Finals now. I just need to do a little bit of tweaking with my iron game to be fully prepared.”

In the girls’ 15-18 division, Rafa Anciano held off Levonne Talion to win the premier category and formally qualify for the Finals.

Talion needed a victory to break into the Top 4 and nearly completed the comeback after rallying from four strokes down to within one of Anciano with three holes left.

Anciano answered the pressure by matching Talion’s birdie on No. 16 before adding another birdie on the par-3 17th to move 2-up.

Both players bogeyed the final hole.

Anciano finished with an 81 for a 242 total, while Talion placed second with a 79 for 244.

Kendra Garingalao, who had been part of the three-way fight for the leg title, fell back after a double bogey on No. 5 and a triple bogey on No. 7, closing with an 85 for 249.

Anciano ended the Luzon Series with 40 points, while Garingalao finished with 37.

Anciano and Garingalao claimed the last two Finals spots alongside early qualifiers Liza Sarines, who had 42 points, and Mona Sarines, who had 39 points.

Talion ended her campaign with 34 points.

“This season was incredibly tough. The dynamic completely changed with the younger girls moving up into our division, leaving me as one of only three or four holdovers in the 15-18 category from last year. It was a privilege to play against such a challenging field,” said Anciano on rising to the competition and handling pressure.

“The heightened competition really pushed me to a higher standard; I was forced to play smarter, shoot lower scores, and elevate my entire game. I think that pressure is exactly what drove me to perform my best during these final rounds,” she added.

The top four finishers from the Luzon and Visayas-Mindanao series will advance to the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior PGT Finals, scheduled Aug. 17–20 at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro, according to the Junior PGT tournament calendar.

The Finals will use a Ryder Cup-style format across three age divisions: 7–10, 11–14 and 15–18.

The North will try to defend the title it won last year at The Country Club, while the South will seek a reversal in Cagayan de Oro.