Quiño rises in JPGT Pueblo

Claren Quiño delivered a gritty performance under final-round pressure to break the looming stranglehold of the homegrown talents, clinching the girls’ 7-10 division title in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Junior PGT Championship despite a closing 84 on Wednesday, July 2.

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Quiño kept her composure amid tough conditions at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here. Though she stumbled with six bogeys and three double bogeys for a 12-over round, her 36-hole total of 165 was enough to overcome first-day leader and hometown bet Francesca Geroy and another local standout Abby Qiu to secure the top podium finish.

More than just a win, it was a breakthrough triumph that shattered what had seemed like an inevitable CDO sweep of all four age-group divisions following their commanding Day 1 showing.

"I was happy but nervous when I took the lead," said Quiño, 9, from Del Monte School. "On No. 9, I got a bit cheeky since my friends were watching."

Scoring her breakthrough win, Quiño said the experience taught her a key lesson: never give up.