Gialon bags Junior PGT 16-18 crown

DAVAO — Aldrien Gialon had a steady 75 and clinched the 16-18 category crown by 18 strokes over Nino Villacencio in the ICTSI Junior PGT Mindanao Series 2 at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates here yesterday.

After pulling away with a brilliant 67 on Thursday, Gialon stayed conservative in the final 18 holes, effectively turning the round into a virtual practice session.

“With a huge lead, I played safe and aimed for par or bogey,” said Gialon, who finished with three bogeys and no birdies for a 37-38 and a 72-hole total of eight-over 296, leading the sweep of the premier division by the local talents.

The 18-year-old student from EMAR Human and Environmental College posted his second straight win in the four-leg Mindanao swing of the nationwide series sponsored by ICTSI after dominating his cousin Adrian Bisera by 10 strokes at their home course in Apo last week.

Villacencio booked an 82 and secured runner-up honors with a 314 while Biserascored an 85 for third place at 324.

South Cotabato’s Rainier Tagwalan, who finished third at Apo, wound up fourth at 326 after an 84, followed by Vince Naranjo (85-338) and Kenly Wacan (86-339) in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf.