Zaragosa, Uy cap matchplay sweep

MANILA, Philippines — With family as his gallery, Rupert Zaragosa gutted out a scrambling 2-up win over Ramir Roque Friday to bag the Philippine Junior Amateur Open match play title at Alabang Golf Club.

Three grandparents, his parents and several other relatives braved the scorching heat to see the pint-sized Zaragosa fight back from an early 2-hole deficit to prevail in the tournament presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

“Seeing them watching me every hole gave me the inspiration I needed,” said Zaragosa, who pocketed his sixth national title and now holds both the men’s and boy’s match play titles for the second time in his career. “It was a day when par was good enough to win several holes.”

Daniella Uy also completed her golden double earlier and shared the winner’s stage with Zaragosa, but not before being taken to 20 holes by the gritty Mikhaella Fortuna in the girl’s final of the event backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

Zaragosa bogeyed two of the first three holes before tying the match with pars on hole Nos. 6 and 8 which Roque bogeyed.

After Roque lost a 1-hole lead with a three-putt on the 12th green, Zaragosa churned out a great scrambling effort that won him the next two holes with pars.

Roque threatened for the last time when he drained a curling 25-footer for birdie on the long 15th hole before Zaragosa played the last three holes at one-under capped by pars on No. 17 and 18.

Uy also won the women’s matchplay three weeks ago. Park Min-ung, the 16-year-old Korean whom Zaragosa conquered in the Final Four and in the title match of the men’s event at Orchard, was third after a walkover win over Luigi Wong, who reported under the weather.

Princess Superal, who lost to Uy in the semifinals, routed Ashia Nocum, 6 and 5, to finish third.