Zaragosa: Rising Davaoe±a star Precious Zaragosa dominated the girls' 15-18 division in the ICTSI Negros JPGT Championship at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Wednesday to earn a ticket in the Elite Grand Finals. For winning the final two legs of the six-stage Visayas-Mindanao Series, she garnered 42 points to finish on top of the standings in a tie with Cebuana Tashanah Balangauan, who already secured the first Finals berth. They will lead the formidable South team in the Ryder Cup-style duel against the North side on Aug. 17 to 20 in Cagayan de Oro.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cebuana Apple Gotiong, who also finished with a four-over card for a 229, made it to the finals via the backdoor, raising her total to 36 points for three second-place finishes across the Vis-Min series. Lois Laine Go shot a 79 to finish third at 242 and secure the third qualifying spot with 35 points, while Cagayan de Oro's Mikela Guillermo, who placed fourth at 253 after an 81, took the fourth and final ticket with 28 points. Guillermo dislodged erstwhile No. 4 Zero Plete, who surrendered her finals aspirations by skipping this final elimination leg.
In the boys' final, Cebuano Sebastian Sajuela shot a 75 for a 224 total to beat Del Monte's Clement Ordeneza, who finished with a 76 for a 226 total. Eddie Gonzales Jr. carded a 74 to place third at 230. "I felt a lot of pressure, but I kept fighting and stuck to my game plan. Clement is an exceptional player. I knew that if I lost focus for even a moment, winning this tournament would slip away," said the 17-year-old Sajuela of the Cebu Country Club. "I'm going to train hard and hope to carry some good momentum into the finals," said Sajuela, vowing to bring strong leadership and encouragement to the South squad.
Meanwhile, the race for the remaining national finals slots shifts to Luzon, where the final leg of the Luzon Series will take place on June 17-19 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite.
