Zoji Edoc showed nerves of steel in a dramatic finish, holing out with three consecutive pars to salvage a one-over 72 and edge Andres Jeturian by one shot to capture the boys’ 7-10 division title in the ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship in Mexico, Pampanga on Tuesday.
What began as a light, youthful atmosphere quickly turned into a furious four-way battle down the back nine of the Beverly Place Golf Club. Alongside Edoc and Jeturian, Alexian Ching and Lee Sooreen were also locked in the fight for the lead before both eventually faded in the closing stretch.
Jeturian, who was tied with Ching for the first-round lead of the 36-hole tournament, matched Edoc’s steady par-par-par finish. However, he was ultimately undone by Edoc’s strong mid-round surge, where a three-stroke deficit was erased as Edoc seized control by going two-under through the first 10 holes.
The tension peaked late as Edoc stumbled with dropped shots on Nos. 2, 4, and 6, trimming his lead to just one. But despite the sweltering humidity under overcast skies, Jeturian failed to find the needed birdie in the clutch and settled for a 76. That handed Edoc the title with a 150 total, against Jeturian’s 151, while Lee (75) and Ching (77) shared third at 152.
The gritty win proved significant for Edoc, as it secured him the coveted second automatic berth in the upcoming North vs South Finals with 42 points, tying first qualifier Zach Guico. Kenzo Tan carded a 73 to place fifth at 158, remaining No. 3 in the standings, while Ching sits at No. 4 and Asher Abad remains at No. 5 heading into the final Luzon Series leg at Eagle Ridge on June 17–19.
“I put in the practice right after the first round, adjusting my shots and polishing my putting. That extra work gave me the confidence I needed, especially on Nos. 17, 18, and 1,” said Edoc, whose relentless work ethic and three consecutive birdies fueled his come-from-behind victory.
“I felt so confident with my putting today, and it taught me that you truly have to train and practice if you want to build that kind of confidence,” he added.
(C) JPGT
Meanwhile, the girls’ youngest division featured a dominant performance as Jaicee Cervantes signaled her intent to crash the Grand Finals picture. She completed a commanding wire-to-wire victory with a closing 74 for a 149 total, finishing nine strokes ahead of Jehanne Mendoza (72), who settled for 158, while Summit Point leg winner Andrea Dee struggled to an 83 for a distant third at 164.
Cervantes’ victory earned her 15 crucial points, vaulting her from 10th to fourth in the standings with 23 points in just two appearances. She will still need another strong finish in the final leg to strengthen her bid for a Grand Finals berth.
“I feel happy because my hard work is finally paying off. I really credit my putting for carrying me through these two days. I also learned that I can’t let my emotions get the best of me because managing them is a huge part of my game. I just can’t pressure myself,” said Cervantes.
As the circuit heads into its final Luzon leg, Winter Serapio remains securely at the top of the youngest category’s Grand Finals cast with a maximum 45 points, while Mendoza and Dee are heavily favored to secure the next two spots. The final berth, however, remains tightly contested between Cervantes and Laura Pablo (20 points), while Isabel Cabrera, Tyly Bernardino, and Elizabeth Laurel (14 points each) still hold mathematical chances.
Meanwhile, the chase for crucial ranking points and coveted South team berths heats up on Wednesday (June 3) as the JPGT Visayas-Mindanao Series heads to Murcia for its penultimate leg at the short but tricky Bacolod Golf and Country Club.
While top contenders aim to solidify their positions, a hungry pack of hopefuls is mounting a last push for Grand Finals tickets via the backdoor. The action shifts to the final leg on June 8–10 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City, promising even fiercer battles across all age divisions.
In the 11–14 division, Ryuichi Tao delivered a wire-to-wire victory in the boys’ category. Built on an opening-round 68, he closed with a 73 for a 141 total, holding off a late charge to win by two strokes over Javie Bautista (71) and Jose Luis Espinosa (69), who tied for second at 143.
“It feels good to win for the first time. My driving, iron game and chipping all clicked out there,” said Tao, whose 15-point haul boosted his Grand Finals hopes to 25 points with one Luzon leg remaining.
Despite Tao’s surge, the race for the remaining slots remains tight. Chan Ahn and Ryuji Suzuki sit at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, while Tao, Jacob Casuga, and Race Manhit remain within striking distance heading into the final leg. Casuga finished fourth at 148 after a 75, while Iñigo Gallardo slipped to 149 after a 77. Manhit and Ahn tied for sixth at 150 after rounds of 75 and 77, respectively.
In the girls’ 11–14 division, Georgina Handog secured back-to-back victories to virtually lock in her Grand Finals ticket. After building a strong lead in the opening round, she closed with a 73 for a 145 total, finishing four strokes ahead of Cailey Gonzales, who fired a 68 to finish second at 149, while Aerin Chan took third at 151 after a 74.
“It feels great to win back-to-back. My short game was on point all tournament long. I think if you really want to do well, you have to sharpen your short game. The course was tough, but I was still able to put up a good performance,” said Handog.
Ranking leader Mavis Espedido endured a difficult round, slipping to an 84 and finishing seventh at 165. The result allowed Gonzales to take over the top spot with 39 points, while Espedido dropped to second with 33 points. Chan remained in contention at third with 28 points.
In the premier 15–18 division, Jakob Taruc pulled away to an 11-stroke lead in the boys’ category after a 72 for a 149 total heading into the final 18 holes. Bryce Co stayed in second at 160 despite a 77, while Francis Slavin moved to third at 161 after a 75.
“I was much better off the tee today, and my up-and-down game improved as well. My chip shots landed closer to the pin, making it a lot easier to save par,” said the 16-year-old Taruc. “The biggest challenge was the wind, which kept affecting the ball flight, but I managed through it. Now, I’m just hoping to post an even better score in the final 18 holes than my previous rounds of 77 and 72.”
Meanwhile, Kendra Garingalao moved closer to the girls’ title and a Grand Finals berth, posting a 78 for a 158 total to take a three-shot lead over Rafa Anciano, who sits at 161 after a 76. Levonne Talion stayed in contention at third with 167 despite an 80, while Maven Pallasigui (81–168) and Chloe Rada (87–181) round out the top five.
“I was able to read the greens much better today. I haven’t felt much pressure over the first two days, and I’m praying I can maintain that same mindset tomorrow. My goal is to just play pressure-free in these final 18 holes,” said Garingalao, 15.
