The numbers are staggering: 18 strokes. That is the margin by which 16-year-old Jakob Taruc obliterated the competition at the ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship in Mexico, Pampanga. Braving shifting weather and an early downpour, Taruc captured the premier division title with a closing 75 for a 54-hole total of 224, finishing well ahead of Nathan Belandres who carded 242 .
The wire-to-wire victory cemented Taruc’s status as one of the most promising junior golfers in the country. He opened the tournament with a two-shot lead after round one and extended it to an 11-stroke cushion heading into the final day. When the last putt dropped, he had more than doubled his advantage, completing a performance that left no doubt about the championship.
A Mindset Shift: Pars Over Birdies
What changed for Taruc? The answer is not in his swing but in his head. "I used to play aggressively, going right after the pins. Now, I'm focusing more on how to make pars instead of birdies," Taruc shared after his victory . The strategic shift paid off handsomely. Instead of chasing risky shots that could lead to big numbers, he played smart, conservative golf—and still won by a landslide.
The final round saw challenging conditions, including a two-hour rain delay that tested the patience of all players in the 96-player field, one of the largest and most competitive of the Junior PGT season . But Taruc opened with a birdie despite the downpour and never looked back. His victory marks his first Junior Philippine Golf Tour title, a breakthrough that could launch a dominant run.
Pampanga Shines as Junior Golf Destination
Beyond Taruc’s dominance, the tournament showcased the depth of young talent competing in Pampanga. In the girls' premier division, Kendra Garingalao overcame a two-hour rain delay to take the crown, finishing with a 235 total . Meanwhile, Race Manhit delivered a 13-stroke victory in the 11-14 division, and Ryan Monsalve topped the boys' 15-18 category .
The ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship was played at the 128-hectare GEO-certified Mimosa Plus Golf Course (formerly known as Beverly Place), which features a driving range, golf academy, and night-golf capabilities . The event drew one of the largest fields of the season, proving that Pampanga has become a premier destination for junior golf tournaments. For Taruc, the victory earned him valuable ranking points as he sets his sights on the North vs. South Grand Finals—and perhaps a future in the professional ranks.
