Zaragosa rips Nagai for 2nd Match Play title

CANLUBANG, Laguna—Rupert Zaragosa, again at his scoring best, fended off the challenge of Gen Nagai yesterday for a 4 and 2 victory and his second NGAP Philippine Match Play championship at the up-and-down Canlubang South course here.

The 15-year-old Philippine team mainstay trailed in a match for the first time, but quickly rebounded to go 4-under in the front and 2-under in seven holes at the back to reprise his triumph in 2011 in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

“I hit it well the whole week and I was fortunate enough to putt really well in all my matches,”  said Zaragosa, who wrapped up the match after the 16th hole.

Nagai, the reigning junior match play champion at the Cebu Country Club, birdied No. 1 and took a one-hole lead. But the 16-year-old Japanese, who has been a resident of Cebu for the past 13 years, couldn’t keep up with Zaragosa after that.

Zaragosa won Nos. 3, 4, 7 and 8 with birdies and left the tall and well-built Nagai eating his dust.

Felicia Medalla shared the winner’s stage with Zaragosa after turning back Mikhaela Fortuna in 20 holes of the ladies’ final of the event also backed by Pancake House, Pacsports and Golf Depot.  Musong R. Castillo