Agustin, An pull off wins at JPGT Malarayat

LIPA City, Batangas – John Paul Agustin Jr. finally savored victory after three near-misses, including a runner-up finish in his previous outing, as he captured the boys’ 13-15 crown in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series 6 at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club here on Wednesday.

The field, including participants in the 16-18 division, faced another grueling day as they navigated unpredictable weather conditions on the Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo courses. 

Battling gusty winds, rain and fleeting sunshine, the young golfers vied for top honors and crucial ranking points for the upcoming Match Play Championship.

Agustin made his triumph even more remarkable, staging a stunning comeback from three strokes down with nine holes to play. He delivered a steady performance on the challenging Mt. Malipunyo nine, carding a gritty 37 and a 76 for a 155 overall.

Meanwhile, erstwhile leader John Majgen Gomez faltered under pressure, finishing with a disappointing back nine 44 and an 83.

“I knew I had a shot right from the start, being only three strokes behind the leader," said Agustin, a 15-year-old student from Elizabeth Seton School, who topped the tournament, which was reduced to 36 holes after adverse weather led to the cancellation of Monday's first round. 

"I felt good about my game, especially after hitting well on the range before the final round. My chipping and putting had improved, so I went in with confidence," added the Las Piñas-based shotmaker, who carded a 79 in the first round.

Agustin's victory came at the expense of Gomez from Taguig, who suffered a string of four bogeys from No. 14 onwards, surrendering his lead. Two strokes down with one hole to play, Gomez took a gamble on the closing par-4 but faltered, concluding his round with a costly double bogey, mirroring his last-hole from the previous day.

Gomez ended with an 83 for a 159, while pre-tournament favorite Jose Carlos Taruc, who had secured victories at Riviera and Luisita, settled for third place with an 80, finishing with a 165 total.

Agustin's victory bolstered his bid for a finals spot with just one tournament remaining in the seven-stage Luzon series, which culminates in the Match Play Championship