Denise Mendoza fires 64 to top ICTSI Junior PGT first round

Cebuana golfer Denise Mendoza made a splash in the opening round of the ICTSI Junior PGT Championship, dominating the girls’ 7-10 division on Wednesday, July 10, in Davao City.

What started as a tight contest quickly turned into a showcase of her talent. The 10-year-old prodigy unleashed a remarkable six-birdie streak starting at No. 10 at the South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates, firing an impressive 64 to seize control of the leaderboard.

Despite a rollercoaster nine—marked by three birdies and three bogeys under humid and overcast skies—Mendoza found her rhythm after the turn. She lit up the back nine with birdies on holes 10 through 15, displaying exceptional precision and composure beyond her years.

“I was surprised – I really didn’t expect to score this low, especially on a course I’ve never played before,” said Mendoza, who credited her calm mindset to her father’s advice: "Stay calm and stick to the basics, especially when you hit a bad shot or things start to go wrong."

“Most of the time, my approach shots left me with easy birdie chances – usually within five feet. That meant I didn’t need to make a lot of long putts. I’ll just play exactly the same way,” added the Cebu Learning Center student.

On the boys’ side, Jamie Barnes stayed on course for a third straight title, capping his round with clutch birdies to card a 71 — building a commanding eight-shot lead over Davao’s Miguel Revilleza.

While his finish wasn’t as explosive as Mendoza’s stunning back nine, Jamie Barnes delivered his own statement with three straight birdies to close out the front nine, enough to take full command of the boys’ 7–10 division.

“I think I played really well, especially in the last three holes. That made me very happy,” said the 9-year-old, flashing a big smile. “I also had a lot of fun out there.”