MANILA — Davao's Kimberly Baroquillo won the girls' 11-14 title Thursday in the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship in Bukidnon.
Baroquillo, who scored a hole-in-one on No. 12, fired a second straight 73 for a 146 total, four strokes ahead of Mactan leg winner Britanny Tamayo, who posted another 75 for a 150.
CDO’s Isabella Espina placed third with a 168 after an 87.
“I really aimed for the right side, going against my caddie’s advice to hit it straight. It landed on the right and rolled straight into the hole," said Baroquillo, who used a TaylorMade 7-iron to ace the 147-yard No. 12. She earned a certificate and PHP10,000 in cash courtesy of Del Monte Golf Club for her remarkable achievement.
“All the hard work has finally paid off. I’ve been training intensely over the past few months to improve, and winning for the first time is just an incredible feeling,” added the 13-year-old South Pacific mainstay and student of Homeschool Global after pocketing her first JPGT title.
Soleil Molde, also from Davao, claimed victory in the girls’ 7-10 division also played over 36 holes.
The eight-year-old carded a 79 for a 156 total, beating Clarin Quiño who finished with an 81 for 163. Francesca Geroy was third after an 84 for a 164 aggregate.
“It was the challenges I faced that kept me going. I learned from my mistakes, made new friends, and most of all, God helped me win. I’m really happy with this victory," said Molde, who trained at Apo Golf.
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro bets Ken Guillermo and Jamie Barnes also triumphed in the kickoff leg of the four-stage Mindanao swing of the Visayas-Mindanao Series.
Guillermo fired a 73 to win the boys' 11-14 title with a 143 total. Marcus Dueñas of Valencia Dueñas carded a 73 to edge South Cotabato’s Jared Saban, who faltered with a 79, for second place after both finished tied at 150.
Barnes, on the other hand, had a 69 for a 141 total to win the boys’ 7-10 title. Mactan leg winner Ethan Lago salvaged a 70 for second place at 146, while Lucas Revilleza had a 78 and edged Kvan Alburo, who had a 79, in the countback for third after both finished at 155. PNA