Tambalque rules JPGT Pradera golf tilt

MANILA, Philippines -- Patrick Tambalque kept his stellar play in 18-hole tournaments going, repelling Tristan Padilla to rule Round 5 of the ICTSI Junior PGT Series for boys’ 13-14 with 54 Molave points at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga Sunday.

In a virtual repeat of his feat at Splendido Taal last week, Tambalque gunned down three birdies against the same number of bogeys as he posted a gross 72 at the well-kept Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club to edge Padilla by one point for his third victory in 18-hole format, including his romp at Mount Malarayat last June.

Padilla turned in 53 points after a 73 for second while erstwhile Order of Merit leader Alexander Crisostomo struggled with a 76 worth 50 points for third. Rafael Leonio and Bien Fajardo pooled 48 and 46 points from grosses of 78 and 80 as they placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

Tambalque’s back-to-back wins also netted him 30 points in overall points total which combines the points garnered from 18-hole tournaments and the overall DCP (drive, chip and putt) format as he ended up on top after the grueling course-hopping series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Padilla and Crisostomo tied for second overall with 25 points but the former (53 points) edged the latter (50 points) in the countback based on their Pradera Verde outputs,Fajardo and Chaz Limketkai grabbed the last two spots in the national finals with 20 and 19 points, respectively.

The grand finals, which will also feature the Top 5 finishers in the boys’ and girls’ 9-10, 11-12, girls’ 13-14 and boys’ and girls’ 15-18 brackets, will be held on October 3 at The Country Club in Laguna.

Meanwhile, Santino Pineda turned back a late-charging Zachary Villaroman as he topped Round 4 of the