PH Am Match Play: Zaragosa rips Park; Uy wins

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Rupert Zaragosa was on target all round Friday and Park Min-ung didn’t stand a chance.

The pint-sized Zaragosa gunned down birdies in six of the first 13 holes of the title match and dismantled the Korean expatriate Park with precision, 5 and 4, to repeat as Philippine Amateur Match Play champion at the Palmer course of Orchard here.

“I felt great at the start and tried to go for the pins every time,” said Zaragosa, who bagged his third men’s national match play crown. “It was just one of those days when everything clicked.

“It was tough playing out there because of the heat, the tough conditions of the course and the good opponent,” he added. “But this win makes it all worth it. I am very happy because my hard work has paid off again.”

Daniela Uy shared the winner’s stage with Zaragosa after ripping Yuka Saso, 5 and 4, in the women’s final of the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

Zaragosa’s victory also erased bitter memories of his pullout after 24 holes from the Junior Am two weeks ago at Sherwood, when he woke up for the round feeling pain on his right wrist.

Park, the PH Junior Am champ two years ago, never tasted the lead, falling 2 holes down after Zaragosa birdied the second and fourth holes.

Zaragosa stayed 2-up after nine holes despite his only bogey on the seventh, before winning the 11th and 13th holes with birdies and then shooting an eagle on the 14th to wrap up the match.

Park, who routed Orchard member King Stehmeier and compatriot Kim Tae-woo in the quarterfinals and Final Four, respectively, via identical 7-and-6 wins, didn’t actually play bad as he finished 14 holes at two under.

Zaragosa and Park can cross paths again starting May 6, when the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines holds the Junior Amateur Match Play Open at the tough and exclusive Alabang Golf and Country Club.