The race for top honors in the girls’ 15-18 division is expected to go down to the wire as the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship unfolds on Wednesday at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.

Zero Plete and Crista Miñoza, both homegrown talents, brace for a fierce duel with Davao’s Precious Zaragosa in what promises to be a thrilling three-way showdown among some of the country’s most promising junior golfers.

While Plete and Miñoza are expected to capitalize on their local knowledge of the tight, mountain-top course, Zaragosa is looking to counter with grit, experience and hunger, having just moved up to the premier division after dominating in a younger age group last year.

Adding more depth to the title race are Cagayan de Oro’s (CdO) Kenley Yu and Venice Guillermo, as well as Davao’s Santinna Patosa, all eager to make their mark in the 54-hole event kicking off the four-leg Mindanao swing of the ICTSI Junior PGT Visayas-Mindanao Series, promising fierce competition across all age groups in the next four weeks.

In the boys’ 15-18 bracket, Mactan leg winner Alexis Nailga of Bukidnon seeks to ride the momentum of his Visayas triumph in Mactan, but he faces stiff opposition from a talent-stacked field, led by Bacolod’s Santi Asuncion, Cebuanos Nyito and Roman Tiongko, and Davao’s Vince Naranjo, and Zamboanga’s Mhark Fernando III.

CdO’s Armand Copok, Santino Lim, Seth Santos, Cliff Nuñeza, and last year’s match play winner Clement Ordeneza of Bukidnon, are also expected to contend.