Oro, Sinfuego claim JPGT Iloilo top honors

ILOILO, Philippines — John Rey Oro brushed off an early threat from twin brother John Paul with a scorching backside start, turning a narrow lead into a commanding six-stroke victory with an even-par 70 in the premier category of the ICTSI JPGT Iloilo Visayas Series yesterday.

Rhiena Mae Sinfuego matched John Rey’s wire-to-wire triumph with an even more emphatic win in the girls’ 16-18 division of the first of three tournaments in the region organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. She carded an 88, amassing a four-day total of 356 at the Iloilo Golf Club.

John Rey, 17, turned up the heat on the back nine of the challenging layout, transforming a two-stroke edge into a five-shot advantage with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 and eventually the win in the 72-hole tourney.

John Paul faltered with a bogey on the 11th and John Rey’s consistency shone through as he sustained his momentum, adding a chip-in birdie on the difficult par-3 13th, which John Paul bogeyed from five feet.

This solid performance set the stage for John Rey’s unassailable claim to the boys’ 16-18 trophy with a total of 296.

“After I birdied Nos. 10 and 11, I gained momentum and everything just flowed from there. I also thanked God for giving me this opportunity,” said John Rey, celebrating his sixth victory and eagerly anticipating the upcoming legs of the JPGT Visayas swing in Bacolod, their home turf.