Zaragosa, Superal PH Junior Amateur champs

TRECE Martirez, Cavite—Rupert Zaragosa broke par for the first time in a stylish finish yesterday to post a nine-stroke romp in the premier boys’ 17-under division of the NGAP’s Philippine Junior Amateur Closed championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Sherwood Hills here.

The 15-year-old former World Junior champion gunned down four birdies in his first 14 holes before dropping two straight shots to settle for a 2-under-par 70 and complete an easy win over Justin Quiban with a 289 total over the wind-swept, well-manicured course that will be the site of the Putra Cup this month.

Quiban carved out a 73  to book his best national tournament finish in the event that is part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot, Pacsport and Microtel Eagle Ridge.

It was the third national title in a very promising career for Zaragosa, a high school junior from Don Bosco-Canlubang, who virtually sealed his spot in the Junior Putra Cup team that will try to win Southeast Asia’s official team tournament for the first time.

Princess Superal also showed her worth as a  PH team mainstay, closing out with a 74 for an 11-shot victory over Daniela Uy in the girls’ 17-under. Counting rounds of 75, 67 and 69, Superal, now the spearhead of the formidable ICTSI team with the graduation of Dottie Ardina to the pros, tallied 285.

Gabriel Manotoc, also a PH junior team candidate, closed out with a 76 to finish third, another six strokes behind Quiban.

Regan De Guzman, the first member of the ladies PH team in the Putra Cup, showed her true worth by shooting a 71 to cop the special 17-21 division for girls at the expense of former PH Ladies champion Cyna Rodriguez.

OTHER WINNERS: Sophia Chabon, girls’ 13-U; Kristopher Arevalo, boys’ 13-U; Andres Saldaña, boys’ special 17-21