Alexis Nailga opened his bid for a third straight boys’ 15-18 Junior PGT leg title well on Tuesday, shooting a one-under-par 72 to lead fellow Bukidnon native Clement Ordeneza by a shot as the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship got off the ground in Cagayan de Oro.

Just days removed from outsteadying Ordeneza at Del Monte, Nailga remained in his elements even as homegrown bet Ken Guillermo gunned down three of his five birdies in his last four holes for a 70 to take command in the boys’ 11-14 division.

Ordeneza kept playing a role he has had for the last two legs, and that is to finally catch up with Nailga. Ordeneza stayed well within striking distance after three birdies in his last four holes had him a stroke up on the third-running Mhark Fernando III going into the second round.

“I really had to stay composed,” Nailga said even after signing for a bogey on the 18th. “I just couldn’t get my irons going.”

Guillermo, meanwhile, rode out a bum start and finished with a lot of momentum to build a seven-shot lead over Marcus Dueñas heading into the final round of his division on Wednesday.

“I made three bogeys in the first four holes, which put me in a tough spot,” said Guillermo, who highlighted a blazing finish with a chip-in on No. 15 before a birdie off the greenside trap and a seven-foot putt on No. 18.

“I feel a lot of pressure since this is my home course, but I had to stay composed and play comfortably to manage it,” he added. INQ