Homegrown golfer Stephen Clementer mounted a dramatic comeback victory, while Davao City's Soleil Molde continued her dominant run in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Junior PGT Championship in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday, May 6.
Clementer erased a three-stroke deficit on the final hole before edging Ethan Lago in sudden death to capture the boys' 7-10 title in one of the tournament's most thrilling finishes. Molde, meanwhile, secured back-to-back crowns in the girls' 7-10 division with another commanding performance.
Clementer's Clutch Playoff
Clementer kept his composure in the playoff, sinking a clutch three-foot par putt on No. 9 after Lago three-putted from 13 feet, allowing the eight-year-old standout to complete a stunning breakthrough victory. The win sparked emotional celebrations around the course as Clementer soaked in his first Junior PGT title on his home course.
"I'm very happy to win here on my home course," Clementer said in Filipino, adding that his driving, short game, and putting clicked when he needed them most. Despite trailing by seven strokes after 18 holes, the son of former touring pro Edison Clementer never lost confidence, relying on his familiarity with the course and his improving all-around game.
"I was nervous in the playoff, but I stayed focused and did what I needed to do," he said. The victory also redeemed his third-place finish at Del Monte last week, where he ended 18 shots behind Lago.
Trailing by three entering the par-4 18th, Clementer drained a birdie putt for a closing 72, while Lago collapsed with a costly double bogey for a 79, forcing a tie at 151. Lucas Revilleza placed third with a 153 after a 74.
Molde's Back-to-Back Title
In the girls' 7-10 division, Davao's Soleil Molde captured her second straight title after carding a 76 for a 154 total, defeating Alta Vista leg winner Vanya Go by seven strokes. Go finished with a 161 after an 82, while Jia Ho placed third at 181.
"I feel good, though it was a tough journey," Molde said. "I struggled with mishits and missed putts, which got frustrating at times. Thankfully, I managed to pull through, and I'm satisfied with the result." Molde credited her latest win to staying calm and focused throughout the competition. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just relax, have fun, and stay focused," she added.
Other Division Winners
In the girls' 11-14 category, South Cotabato's Brittany Tamayo rallied from three strokes down to repeat over Bukidnon's Rafella Batican. Tamayo fired a 70 for a 147 total to win by two shots over Batican, who closed with a 75 for 149. Kimberly Baroquillo finished third at 152 after a 77.
South Cotabato's Jared Saban also bounced back from last week's playoff loss at Del Monte, finishing with an eight-under 136 total after rounds of 65 and 71 to beat Bukidnon's Ralph Batican by six shots in the boys' 11-14 division. Batican shot a 142, while Ken Guillermo settled for third at 152.
In the girls' 15-18 category, Bukidnon's Zero Plete surged ahead with a 72, overturning a three-stroke deficit against Davao's Precious Zaragosa to take a five-shot lead at 151 entering the final round. Zaragosa slipped to second at 156 after an 80, while Cebu's Lois Lane Go dropped to third at 161.
Bukidnon's Alexis Nailga also grabbed control in the men's premier division after firing a gritty 73 to erase a six-shot deficit against local bet Martin Lu. Nailga climbed to the top at 151 as he moved closer to a third Visayas-Mindanao Series title after earlier victories in Mactan and Del Monte.
