Zero Plete : Champ. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Alexis Nailga and Zero Plete played with great poise that was truly impressive in the final round of the ICTSI Del Monte Junior PGT Championship in Bukidnon on Friday as they preserved wire-to-wire triumphs in the centerpiece 15-18 boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively.

Nailga bounced back from a horrid start to carve out a three-over-par 75 and win by three shots over fellow home bet Clement Ordeneza, who also had his share of a stumble in the front nine, even as Plete triumphed in a nerve-wracking way with the most important par of her week on the 18th.

Ordeneza started the day trailing by three and made the most out of Nailga’s par-double bogey-bogey start to lead, only to sign for a double bogey on No. 5 that allowed Nailga back in the fight. Nailga made the turn ahead by a shot and would never be threatened from there.

“It was a close fight after my early struggles, but I managed to stay composed the rest of the way,” said Nailga, who has now won back-to-back legs after triumphing in Mactan, Cebu. “I also learned how to stay composed under pressure.”

Plete, meanwhile, almost blew a seven-shot lead on Crista Miñoza, only to pull out a brilliant up-and-down from 10 yards of the 54th hole for a 77 for 227 and a one-stroke victory over another Bukidnon native in the flight that was followed by a big crowd all round. Miñoza valiantly rallied with a 71.