LIPA City, Batangas – John Paul Agustin, Jr. finally savored victory after three near-misses, including a runner-up finish in his previous outing, as he captured the boys’ 13-15 crown in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series 6 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club on Wednesday.
Agustin staged a stunning comeback from three strokes down with nine holes to play on another grueling day that had the field navigating unpredictable weather conditions on the Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo courses.
He delivered a steady performance on the challenging Mt. Malipunyo nine, carding a gritty 37 and a 76 for a 155 overall while battling gusty winds and rain amid fleeting sunshine.
Big Agustin fightback
Erstwhile leader John Majgen Gomez faltered under pressure, finishing with a disappointing back nine 44 and an 83.
“I knew I had a shot right from the start, being only three strokes behind the leader," said Agustin, a 15-year-old student from Elizabeth Seton School, who topped the tournament, which was reduced to 36 holes after adverse weather led to the cancellation of Monday's first round.
"I felt good about my game, especially after hitting well on the range before the final round. My chipping and putting had improved, so I went in with confidence," added the Las Piñas-based shotmaker, who carded a 79 in the first round.
Gomez ended with an 83 for a 159, while pre-tournament favorite Jose Carlos Taruc, who had secured victories at Riviera and Luisita, settled for third place with an 80, finishing with a 165 total.
Agustin's victory bolstered his bid for a finals spot with just one tournament remaining in the seven-stage Luzon series, which culminates in the Match Play Championship scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna.
The top four players in each age division, based on their best four performances, will qualify for the national finals.
In the girls’ 13-15 division, Korean standout Yunju An held her nerve to secure victory despite a challenging finish, which saw her falter with four bogeys in the last five holes.
An triumphed over top local contenders Mona Sarines, her twin sister Lisa, Kendra Garingalao, and Levonne Talion, with a final score of 151 despite shooting a 78.
Mona Sarines mounted a strong challenge on the Mt. Malipunyo course, but her efforts fell short as she closed with a 37 and a 77 for a total of 153, two strokes behind An. This marked Sarines' fifth runner-up finish in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Lisa Sarines struggled with an 82 but tied with Garingalao, who slipped with an 84, at third place with 163.
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