Sarines, Chan, Alburo strike once again

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Consistency defined the second day of the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series 4 as first-round leaders across various age-group categories in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions maintained their momentum, securing victories at the Riviera Golf and Country Club’s Couples course here yesterday.

Vito Sarines notched his third leg victory in smashing fashion, carding a 74 in overcast skies after a 70 for an even 144 total and a whopping 15-stroke triumph over Jacob Casuga, who pooled a 159 after a 79. Nathaniel Yeung struggled with a 91 and wound up third with a 178 in the boys’ 10-12 category.

Sarines, who won the Splendido Taal and Pinewoods tournaments and secured a second-place finish at Pradera Verde, vowed to secure at least one more win in the final three legs of the seven-leg Luzon series.

“I will compete in the rest of the Luzon series and aim for another victory,” he said.

In the girls’ 10-12 division, Aerin Chan clinched the top spot after two fifth-place finishes in previous tournaments. She slowed down with an 86 after an impressive 73 and won by five with a 159 total.

Quincy Pilac shot an 85 for second at 164, while Pradera Verde leg winner Georgina Handog and Maurysse Abalos, who topped the Splendido Taal leg, placed third and fourth with 84-175 and 97-191, respectively, in the fourth leg of the regional series sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

In the boys’ 8-9 group, Cebu’s Kvan Alburo, already a finalist after dominating the three-part Visayas series, delivered another wire-to-wire triumph. He matched his first-round output of 90, finishing the 36-hole competition with a 180.