Tamayo, Manhit secure top seeding in JPGT Match Play Finals
STA. ROSA, Laguna – Brittany Tamayo and Race Manhit each posted impressive one-under-par 71s in the scorching and challenging conditions at The Country Club here on Wednesday to secure the top seeding in the 10-12 age division during the 18-hole stroke play phase of the ICTSI Junior PGT Match Play Finals.
However, the real competition begins Thursday as all four divisions for boys and girls set the stage for intense match play battles that will test not just power and skill, but also mental fortitude on the demanding course.
Tamayo, who hails from South Cotabato and trains at the Brittannika Golf Course, upset the tournament favorites in the girls' division. She overcame a shaky 39 on the front nine with a powerful stretch of four birdies in the first five holes on the back nine, including three consecutive birdies starting at No. 10.
She finished strong, parring the final four holes to secure a 71, earning her the top seed for a quarterfinal clash with No. 8 Chelsea Ogborne, who carded a 119.
Mandaluyong’s Aerin Chan followed with a 78 for the second seed and will face No. 7 Casedy Cuenca, who scored a 97. Other matchups include No. 3 Rafella Batican (79) versus Quincy Pilac (84), and Maurysse Abalos (80) versus Kelsey Bernardino (84) in the quarterfinals.
The 12-year-old Tamayo, a student at Notre Dame Marbel University, remained humble about her comeback but expressed determination for the head-to-head phase.
"I will focus on my game and play for par," she said.
On the boys' side, Manhit from Pasig secured the top ranking with a steady performance on a course he calls home.
The Ateneo grade-schooler broke a one-birdie, one-bogey streak on the back nine by carding two consecutive birdies from No. 1, although a bogey on the tough par-4 ninth hole tempered his 35-36 scorecard.
His 71, however, was enough to edge Ralph Batican, who finished with a 73. Ryuji Suzuki (74) and Vito Sarines (75) secured the third and fourth spots, respectively, followed by Jared Saban (79), Javie Bautista (82), and Inigo Gallardo (84).
Unfortunately, Kurt Flores had to withdraw due to injury after six holes, giving Manhit a free ride to the semis, while Saban and Sarines fight it out
