Cebu: Cebuana Tashanah Balangauan debuted in the ICTSI Junior JPGT Championship with a title victory in the girls’ 15-18 division at the Mactan Island Golf Course in Cebu on Wednesday. The 15-year-old Balangauan had back-to-back rounds of 73 to post a seven-shot lead and delivered a final-round 78 under overcast skies to win the title with a total score of 224. She also gained 15 valuable ranking points to boost her chances of securing a slot in the North vs. South Elite Junior Finals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Balangauan expressed her happiness and gratitude after her win, stating, “This experience gave me valuable insights into what I need to improve for my next tournaments.” Precious Zaragosa placed second with a 77, finishing with a total of 231; Crista Mi±oza was third after scoring an 80 for a 233 total; while Lois Laine Go ranked fourth with a 79, ending at 235.
In the boys’ division, Alexis Nailga of Bukidnon registered a two-under-par 66 to win the title. Nailga had a 54-hole total of eight-over 212, highlighted by a second-round 69. He made back-to-back birdies starting from No. 4, had another birdie on the seventh and scored two more birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. Cebuano Nyito Tiongko closed with a 71 to finish at 222 followed by Zeus Suzara with a 237 after a final-round 75.
Other winners include Bukidnon’s Ralph Batican (boys’ 11-14), South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo (girls’ 11-14), Davao’s Ethan Lago (boys’ 7-10), and Cebu’s Denise Mendoza (girls’ 7-10). The seven-stage Visayas-Mindanao Series, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., resumes at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on May 14-16, followed by the Bacolod leg on May 19-21. The Mindanao swing begins at the Del Monte Golf Club on June 25-27.
Players must join at least three tournaments to qualify for the national finals. The top four players in each age-group category will make up the Vis-Min team that will compete against the top performers from the Luzon series in the season-ending championship at The Country Club in Laguna on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
