MACTAN Island – What began as closely contested matchups turned into decisive victories as Brittany Tamayo and Ralph Batican stamped their class in the ICTSI Mactan Island Junior PGT Championship here on Tuesday.
Early morning showers added length and difficulty to the rain-softened Mactan Island Golf Course, presenting an added challenge for the finalists across four age-group divisions. Despite the tough conditions, Day 2 delivered standout performances and dramatic shifts, setting a high bar for the first leg of the seven-part Visayas-Mindanao Series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Tamayo and Batican emerged as the biggest winners in the 11-14 age category, dominating their respective divisions in contrasting fashion.
Tamayo, a rising talent from Tupi, South Cotabato, capitalized on a faltering finish by overnight leader Zuri Bagaloyos of Mandaue to clinch the girls’ title with a closing 73 and a 36-hole total of 150. Bagaloyos stumbled with a costly triple bogey on the par-4 No. 8, leading to a final-round 79 and second-place finish at 155.
Margaux Espina finished third after an 82 for a 159, followed by Rafella Batican’s 79 for 160.
The 13-year-old Tamayo had to make adjustments due to the course conditions.
“The fairways were wet, so the ball wouldn’t roll, and the greens were quite receptive,” she observed.
Looking ahead to the finals, Tamayo emphasized the importance of staying focused, though she remains undecided on which tournaments to join in the remaining six legs of the Vis-Min series.
“I know I can do more,” she said, drawing motivation from within. She credited her success to focus, hard work, self-confidence and maintaining a positive mindset throughout.
In the boys’ side, Batican completed a wire-to-wire victory, extending his two-stroke overnight lead with an impressive stretch featuring five birdies and just two bogeys over 11 holes. His second straight birdie on the par-5 15th sealed an impressive three-under 65 marred by a last-hole mishap, securing a four-shot win on an even 136 total.
Ken Guillermo mounted a spirited rally, highlighted by an eagle on the 15th, but ultimately ran out of holes in his comeback bid. He matched Batican’s 65 and snatched runner-up honors at 140.
Jared Saban of South Cotabato matched par 68 and slipped to third at 141 in the 36-hole tournament sponsored by ICTSI.
A protégé of golf legend Frankie Miñoza, Batican shared that he aims to sharpen his overall game in preparation for the North vs. South finals. He’s driven to perform well, especially knowing the depth of talent in Luzon.
In the youngest girls’ age category, Denise Mendoza reaffirmed her dominance with a commanding 15-stroke victory over Sistine Marie Yu. Despite a shaky final-round 84 following her opening 76, the Cebuana’s 160 total was more than enough to secure the victory.
A winner of last year’s JPGT Match Play titles, Mendoza showed flashes of brilliance with three birdies but also endured the course’s challenges, carding four bogeys, a double bogey, three triple bogeys and a quadruple bogey for a 40-44.
Yu, unable to capitalize on Mendoza’s struggles, fell short of mounting a comeback. Trailing by 19 overnight, the Cagayan de Oro standout closed with an 80 for a 175 total and a runner-up finish. Skye Yocte took third with a 199 after a 97, while Avery Go rounded out the division with a 227 following a 107.
In the boys’ 7-10 division, Davao’s Ethan Lago turned what was expected to be a tight contest against Kvan Alburo into a decisive win. Tied after the opening round, Lago pulled ahead with a steady frontside 41, building a three-stroke lead. He then capitalized on Alburo’s costly quadruple bogey on No. 10 to cruise to a seven-stroke victory.
Lago closed with a second 78 for a 156 total, winning by 11 strokes over Alburo – one of last year’s top performers in the ICTSI-backed national talent search – who settled for second at 167 after an 89. James Rolida of Cagayan de Oro also posted an 89 and finished third with a 171.
Driven by their desire to make their families proud, Mendoza and Lago delivered commanding performances, both crediting their improved driving skills as key to their title victories.
“I hit my drives straight and far,” said Mendoza, a 10-year-old student at Cebu Learning Center. She emphasized the need to work on her putting and approach shots as she prepares for the next Vis-Min Series stop in Negros Occidental next week.
Mendoza also shared a valuable lesson she learned during the tournament: the importance of staying calm. “If you panic, your game will suffer,” she said.
“My drives were all straight,” echoed Lago, an 8-year-old from Ateneo de Davao, who also confirmed his participation in the upcoming events in Negros and Bacolod.
In the premier 15-18 girls’ division, Tashanah Balangauan and Bukidnon’s Alexis Nailga pulled away from tight battles with composed frontside performances. Balangauan fired a one-over frontside 36 en route to a second straight 73, posting a 36-hole total of 146.
After sharing the first-round lead with Lois Laine Go, the 15-year-old Balangauan – who calls Cebu Country Club, Alta Vista, and Club Filipino her home courses – surged ahead with a commanding seven-shot lead over new pursuer Crista Miñoza of Bukidnon. Miñoza bounced back from an opening 79 with a 74 for a 153.
Davao’s Precious Zaragosa remained in third after a 76 for a 154, while Go slipped to fourth at 156 following a disappointing 83.
“I just took note that the greens would be slower and there would be less roll,” said Balangauan, reflecting on the softer course conditions. “But I still focused on every shot.”
Now edging closer to a breakthrough win in her first JPGT appearance, Balangauan remained grounded: “There are no expectations, but I will do my very best.”
Nailga, tied with Nyito Tiongko after 18 holes, pulled away with a three-shot lead after carding a frontside 34 – highlighted by two birdies against a lone bogey. He held firm on the back nine despite a two-over 35, finishing with a 69 for a 146 total and a five-shot lead over Tiongko, whoo struggled to regain momentum and settled for a pair of 37s for a closing 74 and a 151 overall.
Zeus Suzara and Inno Flores shared third place at 162, following rounds of 75 and 82, respectively.
“My driving, chipping, and putting all clicked,” said 15-year-old Nailga from Del Monte. He added that his strategy for the final round is to focus on hitting fairways and greens consistently while maintaining his composure to handle the pressure.
Lago’s victory, along with those of Tamayo and Batican, underscored Mindanaoans’ early dominance in the Vis-Min series, with Nailga poised to secure another title for Mindanao in the boys’ 15–18 class.
