LAUREL, Batangas – Mavis Espedido cemented her brilliant start in the ICTSI Junior PGT Championship by sweeping the first three Luzon series tournaments, capping her run with a three-stroke victory after a 76 at the Splendido Taal leg here on Tuesday.
Initially bracing for a close duel with Winter Serapio, Espedido instead turned the expected showdown into a commanding victory. She closed out the 36-hole tournament at Splendido Taal Golf Club with a four-over card, highlighted by a superb 35 on the back nine, finishing with a 156 total.
While Serapio stumbled with a 41, Espedido pulled ahead by seven strokes – a margin that proved crucial after a shaky finish that included a triple-bogey on No. 4 and bogeys on her final two holes. Despite that, she secured her third consecutive girls’ 7-10 trophy in convincing fashion.
Serapio, who matched Espedido’s eagle on No. 2, finished with a steady one-over performance over the final six holes but could only pull within three strokes, finishing with a 78 for a 159 total.
Penelope Sy took third place with a 178 after a 91.
“Winning a three-peat makes me really happy because it reflects all the hard work I’ve put in and the support I’ve received from everyone,” said Espedido, who highlighted her round with an eagle on the par-5 No. 2, where after a solid drive, she hit a precise 50-degree wedge from 68 yards out that landed just 11 feet from the hole.
The nine-year-old prodigy from Anvaya Cove in Bataan earlier defeated Venus delos Santos by 14 strokes at Eagle Ridge and edged her by one at Sherwood Hills last week. With 45 ranking points and four tournaments remaining in the seven-leg series, Espedido is virtually assured of a berth in the North vs. South Elite Junior Finals at The Country Club later this year.
Meanwhile, players from the south will begin their Vis-Min series on Monday (May 5) in Mactan, Cebu. The Luzon series will resume in July at Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite.
Zach Guico reclaimed the boys’ 7-10 title with a gritty final-round comeback, carding an 84 to defeat Zoji Edoc by four strokes. Guico posted a 36-hole total of 174, while Edoc, who led by five after the opening round, wavered with a 93 for a 178 aggregate.
Guico, who edged Edoc by one stroke at Eagle Ridge but skipped the Sherwood Hills leg, which the latter topped, quickly took control with a 42 on his opening nine as Edoc faltered with a 50. Guico followed up with another 42 on the front nine, while Edoc managed a 43, sealing Guico’s victory and boosting his bid for a spot in the national finals with 30 points.
