Top match play bets in quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines — Top-ranked Gen Nagai of Japan needed just 28 holes in ousting his first two foes Wednesday and to reach the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Junior Amateur Open match play championship at the tree-lined Alabang layout.

Playing in his last year of eligibility, Nagai took out Jaime Patnogon, 7 and 6, before scoring a 4 and 2 win over Liam Cully in the first afternoon match of the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

No. 2 Park Min-ung of South Korea kept in step with the Cebu resident Nagai, taking out Karl Dela Torre, 7 and 5, in the morning before trouncing Carlo Gatmaitan, 2 and 1 even as history-seeking local bet Rupert Zaragosa also advanced to the last eight.

Seeking to hold both the men’s and boys’ national titles for the second time in his career, the 16-year-old Zaragosa, who won at The Orchard just two weeks ago over Park, survived scary moments before picking up a 1-up win over Aidric Chan in the second round.

Zaragosa needed only 12 holes in a 7 and 6 win over Paqo Barro in the morning action of the event backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

Park and Zaragosa stayed on collision course again in the Final Four with expected wins over Ryan Monsalve and Basti Lorenzo, respectively, in today’s morning session.

Monsalve shocked No. 7 Gabriel Manotoc in 20 holes in the opening round before scoring a 2 and 1 win over Carl Corpuz, while Lorenzo dumped two opponents via 6 and 5 scores – Enrique Diaz and Jed Dy.