CAGAYAN DE ORO – Clement Ordeneza and Zero Plete delivered commanding performances to claim victories in the 13-15 division finals of the ICTSI Junior PGT Mindanao Series, held at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.
Their victories secured them coveted spots in the upcoming ICTSI Junior PGT Match Play Championship, set for October 1-4 at The Country Club in Laguna.
For Ordeneza, the win was particularly sweet, marking a significant comeback after a second-place finish at Del Monte the previous week.
The 14-year-old from Little Me Academy dominated the competition, finishing with a 10-under 206 total, a full 19 strokes ahead of runner-up Alexis Nailga, who faltered with a final round of 78 for a 225 total.
Luciano Copok rounded out the top three with a 236 total after shooting a 79.
“It’s always been about my first tee shot. If I start well, I usually finish strong,” Ordeneza said, crediting his initial round of 71 as key to his victory. He also highlighted the improvement in his putting, which allowed him to bounce back from a bogey on the 4th hole with birdies on the 7th, 14th, and 16th.
Ordeneza’s stellar performance not only earned him the championship title but also secured his spot in the Match Play Championship through a tiebreaker based on gross scores, despite both him and Nailga each having a win and a runner-up finish in the series.
On the girls’ side, Zero Plete left no room for doubt about her dominance. She closed out the tournament with a resounding 34-stroke victory, finishing with a 235 total after a final round of 76.
The win was a stark contrast to her narrow playoff victory at Del Monte the previous week. Plete’s victory earned her 30 points, ensuring her place in the Match Play finals alongside other top competitors.
“The main difference from Del Monte is that I was hitting better shots last week, and my body felt strong. This time, I felt a bit weak and struggled to keep my shots on the fairways and greens,” Plete admitted, despite her overwhelming victory.
In the premier 16-18 division, Simon Wahing maintained his lead despite a challenging front-nine, finishing with a 79 for a 228 total, seven strokes ahead of John Rey Oro.
Wahing’s birdies on Nos. 1, 10, and 12 helped mitigate the impact of a triple bogey on the par-5 third hole, where his second shot went out of bounds.
The girls’ 16-18 division saw CdO’s Ally Gaccion taking a commanding lead with a 220 total after an even-par 72. She leads by 21 shots over Crista Miñoza, who carded a 77 for a 241 total.
Both Ordeneza and Plete, alongside other finalists, now set their sights on the Match Play Championship, where they will face off against the best young golfers from across the nation.
