PRIZED recruit Rupert Zaragosa fired a tournament record 10-under-par 62 spiced by a hole-in-one and two eagles to give Lyceum of the Philippines-Cavite a 24-point lead at the start of senior division play in the ICTSI-JGFP Interschool golf championship at Ayala Greenfield Estates and Leisure Club in Calamba, Laguna.
Zaragosa, the country’s top junior, overwhelmed the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course from the tees a lot shorter than what he’s used to playing with a round equivalent to 64 points in the Molave system of scoring as he joined hands with Gelbert Gamolo (53) and Janzen Morilla (47) to collect 164 points as Lyceum left behind powerhouses La Salle-Taft, College of St. Benilde and Ateneo.
Zaragosa’s scorching round, which included an ace on the 11th hole, was the lowest round ever made in the Interschool series which is backed by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. in collaboration with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.
He was only at one under 35 at the turn but exploded with two eagles on the 10th and 13th and three birdies on the 14th, 17th and 18th coming home.
David Guangko scored 41 and Miguel Ilas added 40 as La Salle Green Hills aggregated 81 at Valley Golf and Country Club north course to take the early lead in the Midgets 2 division of the tourney backed by the Philippine Golf Foundation, Martin Lorenzo, Golf Depot and Inquirer Golf.
The Greenies opened up a 12-point lead over Ateneo who totaled 69 on the 38 of Miguel Roque and 31 of Leonid Rico. La Salle Green Hills was at 68 and Ateneo at 56.
Zaragosa and Leandro Bagtas of MSHK vaulted ahead in the individual race with Zaragosa up by 10 over Miggy Yee of La Salle with teammate Gamolo in third.