Del Monte bets defend home turf

MANILA, Philippines —  Bukidnon bets Alexis Nailga and Zero Plete rescued local pride with dominant victories in the premier division of the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship at Del Monte Golf Club yesterday.

With homegrown players largely overshadowed in the lower age-group categories, Nailga and Plete rose to the occasion.

Nailga completed a comeback to nail his second leg win in the Visayas-Mindanao Series, overpowering fellow local standout Clement Ordeneza by four strokes despite a closing 75 in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Plete, meanwhile, figured in the day’s most gripping battle, edging Precious Zaragosa in a dramatic back-nine shootout to clinch the girls’ crown by a single stroke at 213.

Clinging to a one-shot lead after 36 holes, Plete stumbled early with three bogeys on the front nine but stayed in the hunt with an eagle from 24 feet on the par-5 sixth for a 37. She then unleashed a clutch backside 31, overturning a one-shot deficit.