Lucas Revilleza fired a one-under-par 71 at the start of the ICTSI Apo Golf Junior PGT Championships on Monday in Davao, and for the first time in the last four legs of the novel series, the race for the boys’ 7-10 division crown heads to a close finish.

The eight-year-old Revilleza headlined a fiery stand by Davao bets as he kept Cagayan de Oro’s Jamie Barnes company at the top to give someone other than Barnes the chance to win a leg in the Visayas-Mindanao swing of the series.

“I was really nervous and just trusted myself and stayed focused,” Revilleza said in Filipino. “I just hope to be able to win one on my home course.”

Barnes, after debuting with lopsided victories in an impressive three-leg stretch, finished birdie-birdie, including an up-and-down from the greenside trap, for his 71 as he stayed in the hunt to extend his record streak of triumphs.

“I like this course, it’s hard. But I think the greens are pretty easy,” said the nine-year-old Barnes as a pair of pocket-sized bets takes the spotlight on the final day of their division on Tuesday. Cebu’s Kvan Alburo is six shots behind the joint leaders after a 77.

Meanwhile, Crista Miñoza of Bukidnon and Davao’s Merry Rose Wacan carded 79s to set the pace in the girls’ 15-18 as the duo looks set for another down-the-wire showdown similar to what they had at South Pacific last week.

Miñoza, who won by two over Wacan last week, struggled on the slow greens of Apo, while Wacan birdied the 18th to carve out her round.

“This is a tougher course because of the very hard reads the greens give,” Miñoza, a niece of the legendary Frankie Miñoza, said in Filipino.

AJ Wacan took a one-shot lead over Adrian Bisera in the centerpiece boys’ 15-18 bracket after a 72, with Alexis Nailga, who also has three wins to his name, shooting a 75 to remain in the hunt in the 54-hole division. INQ