LUBAO, Pampanga. — The Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club sets the stage Tuesday for a high-stakes showdown as the penultimate leg of the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Swing tees off – a make-or-break moment for mid-teen and young contenders fighting to secure a spot in the North vs South Elite Junior Finals.
With only two legs remaining in the Luzon series, this sixth leg looms large for players still vying for a coveted berth in the Oct. 7-10 championship finale where they will be pitted against their counterparts from the Visayas-Mindanao series.
While several players have cemented their places after standout performances in the first five legs, the battle for the last two spots in each division is still fiercely contested, heightening the tension in today’s round.
Among those who have all but clinched their finals berths are Mavis Espedido and Winter Serapio (girls’ 7-10), Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc (boys’ 7-10), twins Mona and Lisa Sarines (girls’ 11-14), Ryuji Suzuki and Vito Sarines (boys’ 11-14), Rafa Anciano and Levonne Talion (gir;s’ 15-18), and Patrick Tambalque and Shinichi Suzuki (boys’ 15-18).
With these frontrunners likely locked in, positions three to six in each division are now in a pressure-packed scramble, as only the top four in each category will advance. For these hopefuls, Pradera Verde is nothing short of a final audition before the last Luzon leg at Camp John Hay next week.
Third-ranked Tyra Garingalao, No. 4 Penelope Sy, and fifth-seeded Venus delos Santos are all set for a heated battle in the girls’ 7-10 division as they aim to secure a coveted Top 4 finish in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Despite already locking in a spot in the finals, dominant campaigner Espedido remains in the hunt for a fourth victory in the 36-hole tournament, having swept the first three legs.
Rounding out the field are Amiya Tablac and Clare Dungca, who are also eager to make their mark in the two-day event.
In the boys’ youngest category, Edoc is likewise seeing action to maintain his competitive edge. The spotlight, however, falls on Halo Pangilinan and Kingston Ching, who currently occupy the No. 4 and 5 positions, respectively. Also eyeing a breakthrough leg victory are Drake Matias and Sooreen Lee.
Meanwhile, the Sarines twins are out to stay sharp heading into the finals as they lead their division. Close behind are No. 3 Kendra Garingalao and fourth-ranked Alexie Gabi, both of whom are eyeing critical ranking points, while No. 5 Eliana Dumalaog, just six points adrift of Gabi, is also in the mix, setting the stage for a tight battle in the girls’ field.
In the boys’ 11-14 division, Jacob Casuga and Race Manhit – ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively – are primed for a spirited duel to solidify their finals berths. Zianbeau Edoc, currently No. 7, begins his backdoor push in a stacked lineup that includes qualified finalist Vito Sarines and title hopefuls Nathaniel Yeung, Jacobo Gomez, Lemuel Abad, Ezekiel Opinion, Joseph Punasen, Peter Calimag Jr., Victor Christensen and Lorenzo Juane.
A four-way battle is also shaping up in the girls’ 15-18 class, with No. 3 Chloe Rada and No. 4 Tiffany Bernardino looking to maintain their places in the standings. But they’ll be tested by No. 6 Angelica Bañez and seventh-ranked Ayesha Salino, both determined to score a breakthrough podium finish in the 54-hole competition that also features Pak Seeun.
Fireworks are expected in the boys’ premier division as well, with No. 3 Zachary Villaroman going all-out for victory – and a shot at the top ranking – in the absence of front-runners Tambalque and Suzuki. In hot pursuit are No. 4 Jose Carlos Taruc, fifth-seeded Kristoffer Nadales, and other leg title aspirants including Andres Fabie, Alonso Espartero, Nathan Belandres and Rodrigo Lim.
