SANTA ROSA, Laguna – Lisa Sarines drained a nerve-wracking putt on No. 8 on the final stretch to claim a hard-fought two-stroke victory over Johanna Uyking, her final-round 79 capping off a dramatic, day-long duel of skill, strategy and resilience in the Uswing Mojing Junior World Qualifying at The Country Club on Friday.
The girls’ 13-14 division saw Sarines and Uyking wage a thrilling head-to-head contest. Uyking’s birdie on No. 7 pulled her into a tie at 16-over overall, setting up a high-stakes showdown as they approached the decisive par-5 No. 8 – a hole she had birdied on both previous rounds.
But in a stunning twist, it was Sarines who rose to the occasion, executing a superb approach and capitalizing as Uyking missed a crucial putt to tie. Seizing the advantage, Sarines carried her one-stroke lead into the ninth, where she held her nerve and secured a par.
Junior World Championship qualifiers
Uyking, in a last-ditch bid for a birdie to force another tie, instead bogeyed, handing Sarines the hard-earned victory with a 54-hole total of 232.
Uyking ultimately carded an 82, finishing at 234, while Mona Sarines and Precious Zaragosa rounded out the top four. Their performances secured them berths in the Junior World Championships in San Diego, California, this July.
Only the division winners, however, earned the coveted prize of free airfare to the event.
Mona Sarines shot a 78 for 242, while Zaragosa ended up with a 251 after an 85.
The boys’ 15-18 division also delivered a dramatic and unpredictable finish, with Tristan Padilla ultimately emerging victorious after a tense sudden-death playoff with Shinichi Suzuki. Padilla secured the win with a routine par from six feet on their return to No. 18, edging out Suzuki in the decider.
Holding a comfortable five-stroke lead heading to the final round, Padilla struggled down the stretch, dropping five strokes in the last three holes for an 83, and allowing Suzuki, who carded a 78, to force a playoff at 235.
But Suzuki fell short in sudden death, missing his par attempt from long range after chipping past the hole by about five paces.
Meanwhile, Patrick Tambalque and Emilio Hernandez claimed the final two Junior World berths after finishing tied for third at 240, with rounds of 78 and 83, respectively.
Reese Ng fended off a determined challenge from Alessandra Luciano to secure victory in the girls’ 15-18 category, overcoming a series of bogeys down the stretch to win by four strokes with a 240 total after an 82.
Ng, who entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Luciano, held her ground despite a back-nine 41 against her rival’s 40. However, she proved steadier on the front nine, matching her five-over performance, while Luciano struggled with a 42.
Luciano finished second with a 245 after an 83, while Anya Cedo secured third place with a 246, also after an 82. Ally Gaccion locked in the final Junior World berth, finishing fourth with a 247 following an 84.
The tournament, supported by the National Golf Association, MVP Sports Foundation, The Country Club, ICTSI, PLDT, and the Junior PGT, provided young golfers with a crucial test ahead of the 15-leg Junior PGT season, which begins next month at Eagle Ridge.
In addition to championship berths, the event awarded valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points, which will be available throughout the Junior PGT circuit.
Ralph Batican cruised to victory in the boys’ 13-14 division despite a final-round 83, his commanding 10-stroke overnight lead proving insurmountable for his closest challengers. The rising Del Monte star posted a 54-hole total of 238, securing an 11-shot triumph over a late-charging Mico Ungco.
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