Mona Sarines outdueled Precious Zaragosa in a gripping duel of skills and nerves, topping the putting challenge while finishing second both in chipping and driving to claim the top honors in the girls’ 11-12 category of the Junior PGT 2023 Series at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna last Sunday, Aug. 20.
Playing in such kind of skills contest for the first time, Sarines proved up to the task, pooling 115 points, including 55, 32 and 28 points in putting, chipping and driving, respectively, as she edged Zaragosa, who assembled 113 points on a top finish in driving , and runner-up and third place efforts in putting and chipping .
“The energy was so welcoming, everyone was focused on the specific golf task. And the rewarding outcome after the game was all the kids were happily playing with each other, running around and being kids again,” she added. Sharing the spotlight in the one-day tournament sponsored by ICTSI as part of its commitment to enhance junior golf are girls’ and boys’ 9-10 age group winners Makayla Verano and Vito Sarines, respectively, and Maria Angelica Bañez, who ran away with the girls’ 15-18 diadem with 116 points against Korean Ji Won Lee’s 81-point output.