CEBUANA Tashanah Balangauan made a stunning debut in the ICTSI Junior PGT Championship as she captured the girls’ 15-18 division title at the Mactan Island Golf Course on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
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.
“I’m happy and grateful to win in my first JPGT tournament. This experience gave me valuable insights into what I need to improve for my next tournaments,” the St. Benedict Childhood Education Center student said.
Precious Zaragosa tallied a 77 to finish second with a total of 231 and Crista Miñoza placed third after scoring an 80 for a 233 total, while Lois Laine Go (79) ranked fourth with a 235 aggregate.
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 hole 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 are 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-Oct. 2. / PNA