Mona Sarines, Padilla claim centerpiece titles
Mona Sarines and Tristan Padilla carved out authoritative victories in the centerpiece girls’ and boys’ divisions of the ICTSI Camp John Hay Junior PGT Championship after closing out with dominant rounds on Thursday in the bending layout in scenic Baguio.
Sarines had an eagle and four birdies in shooting a five-under-par 64 to win her 15-18 class by 11 shots over a dumbfounded twin sister Lisa, while Padilla had six birdies against three double bogeys for a level 69 that was still good for a six-shot romp in the boys’ division.
The 14-year-old Mona drained a nine-footer for an eagle 3 on the 17th, which was set up by a majestic 5-wood as she tallied a 54-hole 210 with Lisa failing to keep in step after a 72.
“I am very proud of myself, for winning for the first time this season,” Mona said as she avenged a close loss to Lisa at Mount Malarayat. Levonne Talion shot a 73 for 234.
Meanwhile, Padilla, who plays out of Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite, also won for the first time this season with a 202 total and, like Mona Sarines, erased some bitter memories from finishing way out of the title race in the first leg at Malarayat.
“I wasn’t actually playing well, so this win is definitely a confidence booster,” added Padilla, who finished 21 strokes behind Shinichi Suzuki in a joint runner-up finish with Patrick Tambalque in Batangas.
“I started out well, which gave me a good opportunity,” said Padilla, who opened with a 64 on Tuesday and immediately made it clear that their division won’t boil down to a Charles Serdenia-Suzuki affair. “I just made sure to build on that by staying consistent throughout the round.”
