LAUREL, Batangas – Shinichi Suzuki made a resounding return to the ICTSI Junior PGT Championship, showcasing steely resolve and a calm under pressure to beat Zachary Villaroman by three in the Splendido Taal leg title with a 72 on Wednesday.
Facing gusty winds that turned an already challenging course into a true test of nerves and precision, Suzuki overcame an early deficit and relied on consistency and mental grit to emerge victorious in the boys’ 15-18 division of the 54-hole tournament.
Suzuki closed out with a 219 total, three-over for the tournament, securing a well-earned victory before the Luzon series pauses for the Visayas-Mindanao (Vis-Min) swing, which kicks off Monday (May 5) in Mactan, Cebu.
Villaroman, third in the series’ first two legs at Eagle Ridge and Sherwood Hills, improved to second this time with a 222 after a 76. Despite the stumble, he solidified his lead in the points race for the national finals with 32 points, with Suzuki close behind at 27.
Suzuki, a 16-year-old student from St. Francis of Assisi in Biñan, Laguna, showcased superb wedge play to anchor his victory.
He delivered a 50-degree wedge from 140 yards to within four feet for birdie on No. 2, followed by a precise 54-degree wedge from 122 yards that left him just two feet for birdie on the 14th. On No. 16, he leaned again on his trusted 50-degree wedge from 143 yards to set up a tap-in birdie.
“The key was staying patient because this course is pretty difficult – especially the greens,” said Suzuki, who credited his recent stint in Japan for helping him adapt to challenging conditions.
“I had a great experience in Japan, where it was much windier,” he said. “That helped me refine my club selection and learn to play with the wind instead of fighting it. I was able to hit a lot of greens and stay consistent.”
Rafa Anciano, on the other hand, clinched her second straight win in dominant fashion, crushing Angelica Bañez by 36 strokes despite a closing 96 for a 54-hole total of 260 in the girls’ 15-18 category of the nationwide junior golf series, launched by ICTSI in 2023 as an elite platform for grooming young talents.
Despite a challenging day at the Greg Norman-designed layout, Anciano remained unthreatened. Her front nine included a quadruple bogey on the par-5 No. 2 and a triple on No. 6 plus a slew of backside bogeys, leading to a 24-over final card.
Still, Bañez struggled even more, posting a 98 that featured a birdie on No. 3 but offset by five double bogeys at the front for a 50. She came in with a 48 marred by a triple-bogey on the par-5 18th for a 296.
Villaroman and Anciano thus joined other category winners – Zach Guico and Mavis Espedido (7-10) and Ryuji Suzuki and Mona Sarines (11-14) in this third of the seven-leg Luzon series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
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