Nailga, Plete set early pace at Del Monte
Home bet Alexis Nailga got his bid for a second straight Junior PGT boys’ 15-18 title off to a roaring start, with a birdie on the 18th hole on Wednesday giving him a level 72 and a two-shot lead in the ICTSI Del Monte stop in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
The champion in Mactan a couple of weeks back, Nailga navigated the tree-lined course with precision and will enter Thursday’s second round the leader by two strokes over Cagayan de Oro’s Armando Copok and Nyito Tiongko of Cebu with another homegrown talent in Clement Ordeneza lurking another stroke back.
Mhark Fernando III, son of multiple PGT winner Mhark, and Roman Tiongko stayed within striking distance after shooting 77 and 78, in that order.
Another local entry on Zero Plete took command in the girls’ division after firing a 75 that was also polished off with a last hole birdie at the ninth. She leads Precious Zaragosa, who plays out of Davao, by three.
Aside from titles being staked here, valuable qualifying points for the Elite National Finals pitting the North vs South are also being dangled, and that is precisely what drives Plete.
“I really want to qualify for the finals, so I’m very motivated,” said Plete, who made her return to the circuit after a long layoff.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ 11-14 bracket that will play its final round on Thursday, Davao’s Kimberly Baroquillo carved out a 73 for a two-shot lead over the fancied Brittany Tamayo, the Mactan leg winner.
The boys’ side has CDO’s Ken Guillermo holding a one-shot lead over Jared Saban after shooting a 70. Marcus Dueñas of Valencia faded with a 77, while Laurence Saban carded a 79.
