Cagayan de oro: Team North shrugged off the unfamiliar surroundings, punishing heat, and a fired-up home side to defend the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour Championship title with a 29-19 victory Thursday at South's home turf at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. North dominated the Singles, 14 1/2-9 1/2.
According to Philippines News Agency, needing just 10 points from the 24 head-to-head matches to retain the crown, North won six of the first seven duels - ignited by Jaicee Cervantes' 7 and 5 romp over Blake Aguilar in girls' 7-10 - and halved the other. The last 3 1/2 points took longer than expected, but North eventually completed the inevitable in thrilling fashion, with Zoji Edoc turning a losing stand into a clutch victory. Edoc won the final five holes in a dramatic comeback, rallying from three down to snatch a 2-up triumph over Ethan Lago and match Cervantes' unbeaten run.
Cervantes' partner, Andrea Dee, also rallied to eke out a hard-fought 1-up victory over Soleil Molde, while boys' 15-18 standout Shin Suzuki remained unbeaten for three days, capping his campaign with a 3 and 2 triumph over Roman Tiongko. South had earlier stalled North's march to the title by claiming five victories across various age divisions. But Rafa Anciano delivered an emphatic 5 and 4 win over Apple Gotiong in the girls' 15-18 division, before Jehanne Mendoza finally sealed the championship for North with a gritty 1-up escape over Akeisha Yocte.
Mendoza appeared firmly in control, taking a 2-up lead with two holes to play. But Yocte fought back by winning No. 8, forcing Mendoza to dig deep on the final hole. She regained her composure, matched Yocte's par, and then erupted in jubilation as her five-foot putt disappeared into the cup. The clutch finish secured the championship-clinching 10th point for Team North, although the celebration was far from over. North went on to win four of the final eight matches.
Team North captain Joey Anciano credited the squad's composure, discipline, and willingness to embrace their individual roles for their victory over a strong South team. "We started slow, but we talked to the guys and the kids and told them, 'Just take it one hole at a time.' By the turn, with God's grace, we had the lead. Basically, it was unexpected. The South team was very strong, and their lineup was individually very strong, so we weren't expecting anything. We just had to come here, play our game and take it one hole at a time," Anciano said in a news release.
Anciano also stressed the importance of course management and avoiding unnecessary risks. "One of the keys was respecting the course and respecting the green speeds. There really isn't a lot of room for risky shots, so we just had to play smart and stay disciplined," he said. "This victory means so much. It really proves that it's not just our familiarity with The Country Club or a home-course advantage. We were able to prove ourselves no matter where we were placed, and it really comes down to our talent and skill," he added.
South captain Boyet Zaragosa said his team appeared to have the momentum early, but the match swung dramatically on the back nine. "It was very exciting at the start because we seized the early lead. But they took control on the back nine, and the momentum seemed to completely shift. We were leading after the first nine holes, but things turned around on the back nine, especially in the boys' and girls' 7-10 matches. That's where we felt the momentum slipping away," Zaragosa said.
