LAUREL, Batangas -- Vito Sarines mounted an impressive comeback from eight strokes behind to clinch a narrow one-shot victory over Race Manhit in the boys’ 11-14 age group at the Junior Philippine Golf Tour Luzon Series I held at the Splendido Taal Golf Club.
Despite initially struggling with scores of 90 and 89, Sarines remained optimistic. Starting with a bogey on the 10th hole, he rallied with an eagle-par-birdie streak from the 11th hole onwards, enduring a challenging stretch of five bogeys over eight holes from the 15th.
With five solid pars to finish, he sealed his triumph with a remarkable final round of 75, securing a total score of 254 over 54 holes.
Unaware of his standing during the last round, Sarines played with minimal pressure. "I had no idea of my position and only learned that I had won after holing out," said Sarines, who sunk a 15-yard putt for eagle on the par-5 11th. "Going to the 18th, I told myself that I needed to make par to have a chance at winning."
Meanwhile, Manhit, who held a one-stroke lead over Inigo Gallardo after 36 holes, maintained his position throughout most of the round. He briefly took the lead in the final flight with a birdie on the 6th hole but a costly double bogey on the next hole dented his chances, allowing Sarines to secure victory with four consecutive pars to end the round.
In the girls’ 11-14 division, Precious Zaragosa emerged victorious after a fierce challenge from twins Mona and Lisa Sarines, securing a four-stroke win with a closing round of 76 for a total score of 231.
Zaragosa maintained her lead over Lisa Sarines after 36 holes, capitalizing on crucial birdies to offset some front-nine struggles. Mona Sarines finished second with a score of 235, while Lisa Sarines settled for third with 237.
The outstanding performances of Sarines and Zaragosa, along with the earlier victories of Ryuji Suzuki and Maurysse Abalos in the 8-10 category, marked the commencement of a nationwide 14-leg tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., showcasing the emerging talents and competitive spirit within the country’s golfing community.
In the premier 15-18 category, Jiwon Lee and Zachary Villaroman positioned themselves for varied finishes, with Lee extending her overnight lead to six strokes despite a challenging round of 76, totaling 230.
Lee, the defending champion in her division, overcame a difficult start on the back nine, rallying with an eagle on the par-5 No. 1 to regain momentum. With a comfortable lead heading into the final round, Lee expressed plans for a more conservative approach to secure victory.
Villaroman, initially poised for a substantial lead, encountered difficulties with four double-bogeys, resulting in a score of 81 and opening the door for a thrilling finale with Charles Serdenia re-entering the title chase.
Despite challenges, contenders like Patrick Tambalque and Alexander Crisostomo remained in contention, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.
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