NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – The ICTSI Negros Occidental Junior PGT Championship 15-18 division lived up to the hype on Wednesday, Sept. 17 here, delivering a pair of thrilling, down-to-the-wire finishes that stood in stark contrast to the runaway victories seen in the younger age groups the day before.

Tashanah Balangauan staged a gritty comeback against Precious Zaragosa, capitalizing on her rival’s early stumble to erase a two-stroke deficit. Although she briefly trailed again after No. 10, the 16-year-old Cebuana seized the lead for good following another costly double bogey by Zaragosa on the par-3 13th.

With nerves of steel, Balangauan came through in the clutch, saving par on the demanding par-5 18th with a composed up-and-down for a round of 75. She edged the erstwhile leader by two with a 54-hole total of 12-over 222.

Zaragosa, needing a par on the final hole to apply pressure, missed the green and then misread a tricky downhill putt from seven feet. The miss allowed Balangauan to calmly sink a four-footer to complete her second win in the Visayas-Mindanao leg of the Junior Philippine Golf Tour.

Zaragosa settled for a 79 and a 224 total, while Breanna Rojas carded a 93 to finish third with a 285.

The boys' 15-18 division also produced a thrilling finish, with hometown favorite John Paul Oro weathering a final-round scare to secure a three-shot victory despite a rollercoaster 75.

Oro wrapped up the tournament with a 54-hole total of 222, but the road to the title was far from smooth. Alexis Nailga, already guaranteed a spot in the Finals, mounted a fiery comeback from eight strokes down at the start of the day.

Playing in the flight ahead of the championship group, Nailga birdied the first two holes and trimmed the deficit to just one stroke with one hole to play, putting intense pressure on Oro down the stretch.

But in a bold bid to force a playoff, Nailga went aggressive on No. 18 – and it proved costly. A double bogey derailed his rally, leaving him with a 72 and a 225, settling for runner-up honors.

Azie Acuña carded a steady 78 to finish third at 230, edging out Mhark Fernando III in the countback. Fernando, who had briefly tied for the lead early in the round, faded with an 80 to slip to fourth.

On Tuesday, Ethan Lago and Denise Mendoza dominated the 7–10 age division with commanding victories of 12 and 33 strokes, respectively. In the 11–14 category, Ralph Batican cruised to a 35-shot win, while Zuri Bagaloyos secured a five-stroke triumph.

Meanwhile, Balangauan’s back-to-back wins earned her 30 points, propelling her from joint seventh to No. 4 in the rankings and keeping her bid for an Elite Junior Finals slot very much alive. She enters the final leg at Binitin, which tees off Thursday, carrying momentum and rising confidence in a field where consistency and composure are key.

Zaragosa also improved her standing, moving from fifth to third with 34 points. Meanwhile, Crista Miñoza and Zero Plete remain firmly in control of the top two spots with 39 and 37 points, respectively – virtually locking in their berths in the North vs South Finals scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at The Country Club.

Locked in a head-to-head duel with Zaragosa, Balangauan delivered a clutch performance by staying calm and focused, especially during a tense final stretch that saw heavy rain briefly halt play.

“The sudden downpour on No. 15 caused all flights to pause, which disrupted my momentum a bit,” said Balangauan. “I had to re-stretch and refocus before resuming play.”

With the wind picking up after the rain delay, she showed remarkable composure.

“I trusted my preparation and just focused on each shot,” she said. “Every time I go through my routine, I commit fully. I tried not to hesitate – just play with confidence.”

That included a critical fourth shot on the final hole, which left her with a four-foot par putt to clinch the crown.

“It was an uphill lie with a left-to-right break. I gave it a smooth, solid stroke – and it dropped in,” said Balangauan.

The win came four months after her commanding victory in the Mactan leg – her only other JPGT event this year.

“This win means a lot to me, especially because this course is so tricky. It demands accurate placements off the tee, and every shot counts,” said the St. Benedictine Childhood Education Centre student.

She dedicated the victory to her family, especially her father, Baltaire, who supported her throughout the tournament, as well as loved ones abroad.

“I worked really hard for this. Above all, I thank God,” she said.

“Staying physically fit, getting enough rest, proper sleep, and staying hydrated were all key. But most importantly, it’s about mental strength – staying calm and not letting one bad shot affect your whole round,” added Balangauan.

Despite missing the finals due to the minimum tournament requirement – players must participate in at least three legs to qualify – Oro still savored the sweet taste of his first JPGT victory.

“I’m so happy. It’s my first time winning at JPGT,” said Oro in Filipino, who also expressed disappointment over not making it to the finals.

“I really wanted to qualify, but I couldn’t join the other legs. It’s hard to travel from Bacolod to Cebu or Mindanao.”

Still, he's determined to go for back-to-back wins as he leads the chase in the Binitin leg.

He attributed his breakthrough to his improved all-around game – particularly his putting — which helped him edge out multi-titled finalist Nailga.

“I thank God for giving me strength and the will to win,” he added. “And of course, I’m grateful to everyone who supports me.”