FILE–Zianbeau Edoc.
Zianbeau Edoc bolstered his bid for a finals berth with a composed frontside effort and a strong closing stretch, closing out with back-to-back birdies to salvage a one-under-par 71 and seize the lead in the boys’ 11-14 division of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Junior PGT Championship on Tuesday.
Edoc’s late surge came as Race Manhit, who had led for most of the day under scorching conditions at the Pinatubo course of the expansive Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club, stumbled with a final-hole bogey to card a 74. He fell into a tie for second with Jacob Casuga and Vito Sarines.
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The thrilling finish capped a day-long scramble for control of the 36-hole tournament, the penultimate leg of the seven-stage Luzon series where valuable ranking points needed to qualify for the North vs. South Elite Junior Finals slated for Oct. 7–10 at The Country Club in Laguna are up for grabs.
Despite missing the first four legs, Edoc, ranked seventh, remains mathematically in the race for a Top 4 spot, having marked his JPGT debut with a dominant win over Casuga at Riviera two weeks ago, worth 15 points. Another victory this week would significantly bolster his finals hopes heading to the final leg at Camp John Hay in Baguio next week.
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Still, he’ll have to hold off strong contenders in Wednesday’s final round. Sarines, Casuga and Manhit, ranked second to fourth behind frontrunner Ryuji Suzuki, are all expected to mount a final-round charge in what’s shaping up to be a down-to-the-wire finish among the rising stars of Philippine golf.
“I wasn’t really doing anything too much–just simple golf,” said the 13-year-old Edoc. “I just got lucky with those late birdies.”
While trailing Manhit coming into the final holes, Edoc kept his focus. “I didn’t care about the other players’ scores. They’re really fun to play with, but I just focused on my game,” he added.
The Sarines twins, meanwhile, continue to dominate the girls’ 11–14 division, with Mona carding a 71 to edge ahead of sister Lisa by one stroke. The duo aims to solidify their 1-2 ranking and formalize their stint in the finals.
Mavis Espedido,. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Mavis Espedido, on the other hand, extended her incredible run in the girls’ 7–10 division with a 70, moving within striking distance of a fourth straight leg victory in the 36-hole tournament.
Opening with three straight birdies, Espedido turned in a 34-36 round and built a four-shot cushion over Ronee Dungca.
“This is my first time playing here at Pinatubo, and it’s an amazing experience,” said Espedido, who trains at Anvaya Cove. “I felt relaxed after those birdies. They boosted my confidence.”
Meanwhile, In the premier 15-18 category set over 54 holes, Zachary Villaroman holed out with a birdie on the ninth to rescue a 73 and grab a one-
stroke lead over Jose Carlos Taruc, who closed with three birdies in the last four holes.
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Nathan Belandres and Kristoffer Nadales shared third with 80s, while Alonso Espartero, Andres Fabie, and Rodrigo Lim struggled in the heat with rounds of 85, 86, and 87, respectively.
