Vito Sarines pulls away from Suzuki for JPGT Luzon 11-14 crown
Vito Sarines. –HANDOUT PHOTO
Vito Sarines closed out with an eagle-spiked one-under-par 71 on Wednesday to upstage Ryuji Suzuki for the boys’ 11-14 crown in the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series at Sherwood Hills Golf Club, where Mavis Espedido and Lisa Sarines also emerged victorious in their respective divisions.
READ: Vito Sarines JPGT triumph surprises even himself
Vito canned a pitch from 20 yards on the 12th, picked up another shot three holes later, and then finished par-par-par for a 147 total to beat Suzuki by five shots and erase the bitter taste of a loss to the Filipino-Japanese at Eagle Ridge a couple of weeks back.
“I worked hard for this win. I really wanted to bounce back and redeem myself after Eagle Ridge,” said Vito, who shared the day’s glory with Espedido, who edged Venus delos Santos by a stroke for the girls’ 7-10 division crown after a final round 77 for 153. Delos Santos shot a 75.
Lisa Sarines, meanwhile, broke free in her match-up with twin sister Mona for the 11-14 girls’ title in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., shooting a 73 for 153. Mona closed out with a 76.
The victory was the second straight for Espedido, who solidified her lead in the race for a Luzon team slot in the North vs. South Finals, where the top finishers from the region will face their VisMin counterparts.
The boys’ 15-18 division is up for a tight finish as Patrick Tambalque and Zach Villaroman remained deadlocked, shooting identical 74s for 150 tallies, with John Paul Agustin Jr. charging into contention after an eagle on the par-5 15th aided a second round 72 for 151.
