Zaragosa leads PH Am q’finalists; Quiban out

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Rupert Zaragosa stayed on a collision course with fellow national junior titlist Gen Nagai of Japan after dominating their two foes in the Philippine Amateur Match Play championship Wednesday at Orchard’s world-class Palmer layout.

The champion here as a 13-year-old three years ago, Zaragosa needed just 12 holes to eliminate Ira Alido, 7 & 6, before returning in the afternoon to dominate Ace Stehmeier, 6 & 5, and clinch a quarterfinal slot in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

The fourth-ranked Nagai, who won the Junior Am at Sherwood Hills last week, first took care of Carlo Gatmaytan, 6 & 5, before posting a 3 & 2 win over Jelbert Gamolo of Del Monte.

Zaragosa will battle another Japanese, Yuuto Katsarugawa, a 2 & 1 winner over Ryan Monsalve; while Nagai will have to contend with the comebacking Antonio Asistio, who took out Kevin Saclot, 3 & 2.

The second seed, Zaragosa is now the highest-ranked player in the field after top qualifier Justin Quiban fell in the second round to Korean expat Kim Tae-woo, 4 & 3.

Kim advanced against veteran Eddie Bagtas, a former pro who showed young Raymart Tolentino the door, 4 & 3, in the morning, before shooting down Jets Sajulga, 3 & 1.

The last quarterfinal pairing will pit the seasoned King Stehmeier against former Junior Am champion Park Min-ung. Stehmeier scored 5 & 4 victories over Shin Ye-sub and Lanz Uy, in the first two rounds, respectively.

Park defeated Niko Santiano, 5 & 3.