SILANG, Cavite – Ronee Dungca delivered an impressive debut performance in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series, capturing the girls’ 7-10 division title by a decisive seven-shot margin at the Riviera Golf Club on Wednesday.

Dungca maintained a steady lead throughout the competition, closing with an 80 despite a difficult back nine, culminating in a 36-hole total of 153. Her initial round 73 gave her a comfortable nine-stroke advantage that proved insurmountable amid challenging wind conditions.

Despite not meeting her personal target of a 67 in the final round, Dungca’s score was sufficient to secure victory. Tyra Garingalao finished second with a 160 total after carding 78, while Penelope Sy and Ziyu Liu struggled in the gusty elements, posting 85-172 and 91-175, respectively.

"I feel good, happy. I feel a lot of things," the 9-year-old OB Montessori student from Angeles, Pampanga, said. "But what I liked most was meeting new people and not getting a bad score."

Dungca emphasized her focus on putting and short game practice, which she credits for staying composed despite the windy conditions. She birdied the opening hole yet faced challenges with four strokes lost over the subsequent ten holes, closing with five over par on the last four.

Looking ahead, Dungca intends to compete in the final two legs of the series at Pradera Verde and Pinewoods, aiming to accumulate enough points to break into the Top 4 and qualify for the Finals scheduled for October 7 to 10 at The Country Club.

The current points leaderboard sees Mavis Espedido virtually locked in for the Finals with 45 points, followed by Winter Serapio at 37 and Garingalao, who climbed to third with 40 points, surpassing Sy’s 38 points.

In the boys’ youngest division, Zoji Edoc asserted his dominance with a 12-stroke victory, closing with a 76 for a total of 155. This win solidifies his position as the points leader with 54, ahead of Zach Guico’s 45.

"I just kept my cool and focused on my shot management – it really came down to mindset," Edoc said. Despite recent exhaustion from the Junior World Championships, where he earned a bronze medal, he remained energized and confident throughout the rounds.

Rounding out the top competitors were Asher Abad and Halo Pangilinan, both finishing at 167, with Abad securing second place via countback.

In the boys’ 11-14 category, Zianbeau Edoc captured his first Junior PGT title with consistent rounds of 78, finishing seven strokes ahead of nearest rivals Race Manhit and Jacob Casuga.

Meanwhile, the girls’ 11-14 division saw the Sarines twins continue their compelling rivalry. Mona Sarines secured her third consecutive victory after prevailing against sister Lisa Sarines in a playoff.

"My shots were better today and my putting was really on point," Mona said. "It’s a great feeling, but I also feel a bit sad for Lisa. Still, I’m really proud of myself – and Lisa played really well too."

Both twins recently competed in the Junior World Championships alongside Zoji Edoc, adding to the significance of their wins amid lingering fatigue.

In the boys’ premier division, Patrick Tambalque maintained his lead with a composed 73, holding a three-stroke cushion over Shinichi Suzuki and others. Tambalque attributed his solid play to improved putting and strategic adjustments to counter strong winds.

"I just adjusted my alignment to play it safe because the wind was really strong," he said. "There’s pressure, but I’ll stick to my game plan. I’ll just focus on my score and manage the course."

The ICTSI Junior PGT Series continues to showcase promising young golfers as they battle varying conditions in pursuit of qualification for the Finals and championship honors.