Espartero, Sales, Lapuz shine in JPGT Malarayat

MANILA, Philippines — Alonso Espartero posted a pair of runner-up finishes and one third-place effort to capture the overall crown in the ICTSI 2023 Junior PGT series held under the drive, chip and putt format at Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas yesterday.

Espartero came away with 128 points to beat David Serdenia by five in the Round 2 of the boys’ 15-18 age category and lead the two other category winners – Harry Sales and Maria Montserrat Lapuz – in the one-day tournament disputed over the three basic aspects of the sport.

Sales, an incoming Grade 10 student at Gov. Hills Science School, topped Round 3 of the boys’ 13-14 division with 124 points while Lapuz, homeschooled with Kolbe Academy (Grade 8), scored 105 points for the girls’ 13-14 trophy in Round 4 play in the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Serdenia pooled a 123-point total in the premier boys’ division, while Sales defeated Luciano Copok (106) and Rafael Leonio (97), and Lapuz routed Chloe Lim and Levonne Talion, who wound up with 90 and 73 points, respectively.

Espartero finished tied for second with Shinichi Suzuki worth 40 points in chipping topped by Serdenia (45 points), with Eron Sung placing third with 35 points, while Suzuki notched 55 points in putting where Espartero likewise tied for second with Tyler Zamuco worth 50 points.

Sung ended up third with 46 points.

Mark Kobayashi, on the other hand, took the driving honors with 49 points with Serdenia finishing second (43 points) and Espartero and Vasco Esquivel sharing third place for 38 points apiece.

In girls’ 13-14, Lapuz garnered 30 points to emerge on top in chipping, placed second in driving worth 40 points and made 35 points in a third-place effort in putting to underscore her superb all-around play.