Miko Granada exploded with 62 points to claim the boys’ crown, while Alethea Gaccion secured the girls’ trophy with 53 points in the Junior PGT Series at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna last Monday.
Granada, preparing for a premier junior tournament in the US next month, put up a solid eight-under 64 round in calm conditions. He recorded six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 4 of the par-72 course, which also hosted a Philippine Golf Tour leg last April.
His outstanding performance led to 62 points under the Modified Stableford scoring system, giving him an 11-point lead over Zachary Villaroman. Villaroman shot three birdies against four bogeys for a 73 worth 51 points in the premier 13-15 age group category of the series, which attracted 26 players.
Shinichi Suzuki also scored 51 points from a gross 73, but Villaroman secured the runner-up honors through countback, accumulating 29 points in the last 9 holes compared to Suzuki’s 24 points. The rolling layout also hosted the boys’ and girls’ 9-10 and 11-12 tournament last month.
On the other hand, Gaccion achieved 53 points with an up-and-down gross of 73, featuring five birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey. She narrowly defeated Velinda Castil by two points in their category in the 18-hole tournament organized by the PGT under the ICTSI golf program.
Castil made a comeback from a two-bogey, one-double bogey card after 13 holes, with a birdie on No. 14. However, she finished with four pars for a 75 worth 51 points. Kiara Therese Montebon also fell short of her rally, birdying Nos. 16 and 17 for a 76 and 50 points.
Meanwhile, the JPGT Series, designed to provide young golfers with a platform to refine their skills and prepare for bigger competitions locally and internationally, will resume on July 16 at The Country Club Invitational in Laguna.
The circuit was inaugurated at the TCC last January with a drive-chip-and-putt competition, which will be the format of the next tournament featuring 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15 age group classes.
