LIPA City, Batangas – Lia Duque and Patrick Tambalque delivered commanding performances to win the 16-18 division of the ICTSI Junior PGT Series 6, virtually securing their places in next month’s Match Play Championship.
Duque, continuing her winning form after her recent victory over Chloe Rada at Luisita, secured another wire-to-wire triumph despite posting her tournament-worst score of 8-over 80 in the final round.
The tournament, shortened to 54 holes due to bad weather at the Mount Malarayat composite course, saw Duque hold a commanding lead throughout.
Entering the final round with a 19-stroke advantage over Rafa Anciano, Duque finished with a total score of 231, leaving her 29 shots ahead of her closest rival.
Anciano, the Pinewoods leg champion, stumbled with a 90 to finish at 260, while Rada placed third with a 92 for a 268 total.
“I struggled with my approach shots, trying to deal with the wind and making tough club selections,” said the 16-year-old Duque, whose consecutive wins have strengthened her chances for a spot in the national finals, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “I was either too long or too short of the green.”
Looking ahead to the finals, Duque noted areas for improvement: “I need to work on my fairway woods and long irons. I also need to refine my course strategy to put myself in better positions for birdie opportunities and up-and-down scenarios.” Duque, who also trains at Alabang Golf Club, is focused on sharpening her skills for the challenges ahead.
She heads into next week’s final leg of the seven-stage Luzon series at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite as the top contender.
Despite two wins, a runner-up finish, and a third-place showing, Rada remains in strong contention for the finals alongside Duque.
The top four results from the Luzon series will determine the finalists, with the top four players in each age category (8-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18) advancing to the Match Play stage, scheduled for Oct. 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna.
On the boys’ side, Tambalque virtually secured his Match Play spot with a 15-shot victory over Rafael Mañaol.
Already a winner in Visayas Series 2 (Bacolod) and Luzon Series 4 (Riviera), Tambalque posted an even-par 72 in challenging conditions, finishing with a 2-over 218 total for 54 holes.
Tambalque encountered difficulties during the closing stretch, as a late downpour disrupted his rhythm.
After being 3-under through 14 holes, he struggled with a double-bogey-bogey-birdie-bogey finish, ultimately settling for an even-par 72 – his second such round in three days.
Despite the shaky finish, his earlier efforts ensured a comfortable margin of victory.
“I mishit my tee shot on the par-3 15th, which left me with a tricky chip from a downhill slope. Though I reached the green, I ended up three-putting from eight feet,” said Tambalque, reflecting on the mistake that led to his shaky finish.
Mañaol ended with a 79 for a 233 total, while Luisita leg winner Mark Kobayashi secured third place at 240 after shooting a 78.
Kobayashi’s finish also bolstered his bid for a finals spot, where the top two players from the Visayas and Mindanao series will compete in their respective divisions.
Meanwhile, registration for the final Luzon leg remains open. For details, contact Jhi Castillo at 0928-316-5678 or Shiela Salvania at 0968-311-4101.
