CEBU City – Lucas Revilleza and Avery Go moved a step closer to redemption after carding 74 and 75, respectively, to seize control in the 7-10 division in the ICTSI Alta Vista Junior PGT Championship at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club on Monday.
Revilleza birdied the last two holes of the rolling, ravine-laden layout to salvage a two-over round and a two-stroke cushion over fellow Davaoeño Ethan Lago, who bested him in the opening leg of the Visayas-Mindanao Series in Mactan last week.
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Lago also birdied the par-5 18th for a 76, keeping himself within striking distance heading into the final round of the 36-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Cebu’s Ashton Araw-Araw impressed in his JPGT debut by acing the 81-yard No. 13 using a Ping 7-iron and a Kirkland #2 ball. However, a bogey-double bogey-bogey finish saw him slip to a 90 and fourth place behind Darren Ong, who carded an 86.
“My driving clicked, but I still need to improve my short game,” said Revilleza, 9, from Rizal Memorial Colleges.
In the girls’ side, Go assembled a rollercoaster round highlighted by four birdies against two double bogeys and three bogeys for a 75, giving her a three-shot lead over Zoey Mascariñas, who settled for a 78 after a bogey-bogey finish.
Mactan leg champion Akeisha Yocte, who edged Go by two previously, struggled with a birdie-less 80, while Bacolod’s Ana Marie Aguilar stayed within range with an 82 heading into the final round.
Meanwhile, the second leg of the JPGT Luzon Series gets going Tuesday (April 14) at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. Winter Serapio and Chan Ahn will aim for back-to-back victories in the girls’ 7-10 and boys’ 11-14 divisions, respectively.
Focus will also shift to several promising debutants who missed last week’s opening leg at Mount Malarayat. Among them are 7-10 standouts Zoji Edoc and Zach Guico; 11-14 contenders Cailey Gonzales, Kelsey Bernardino, Tyra Garingalao, Javier Bautista, and Jacob Casuga; and top players in the 15-18 division, including Levonne Talion, Rafa Anciano, and Chloe Rada.
In the girls’ 11-14 division, Marqaela Dy surged at the finish, birdieing the final hole to card a 72 and edge past Zuri Bagaloyos, who shot a 73, setting up a compelling final-round duel between the rising Cebuana stars.
In the boys’ 11-14 category, Laurence Saban pulled ahead in a scrambling finish, carding a 77 despite two bogeys over the last four holes to grab a one-stroke lead over Mico Woo, who birdied the 18th to salvage a 78.
David Gothong seized control in the boys’ 15-18 division, set over 54 holes, despite an 80, building a four-shot lead over Lucas Demiar and Sebastian Sajuela, who matched 84s, with Roman Tiongko lurking at fourth with 86.
In the premier girls’ division, Dominique Gotiong sizzled late, birdieing Nos. 16 and 17 to salvage a 75 and draw level with Tashanah Balangauan, setting the stage for a spirited showdown after Balangauan’s lopsided win over Gotiong in Mactan.
Lois Lane Go fell to a distant third with an 85.
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