Red-hot Zaragosa fires 68, paces PH Am by 2

Rupert Zaragosa gunned down seven birdies on the way to a four-under-par 68 and a two-shot lead over Jobim Carlos after the first round of the Philippine Amateur Stroke Play championship at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki layout in Gen. Trias, Cavite.

Zaragosa vaulted in front in his quest to hold both the men’s and boys’ national championships on the same year for the second time in his career even as Carlos had a roller-coaster back nine for his 70.

Two three-putts in the back nine denied the 17-year-old Zaragosa the chance to pull farther away from the field, with the second of those coming on the par-3 13th, for a double bogey-5.

Carlos, who topped the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour qualifying last month, also over this layout, is trying to win his first national championship in this, his last try before he turns pro later this year.

The University of San Francisco scholar of the MVP Sports Foundation had his best finish of  second place to Korean Wang Jeung-hun in 2011 at Riviera.

LJ Go got his repeat quest off on the wrong foot, shooting a 77 to be nine shots behind in the season-opening event of this year’s PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.

Alvin Hiew of Malaysia was the best-placed foreigner with a 71 with Don Petil shooting a 72 and club player Dan Emilio Cruz turning in a 73. Jelbert Gamolo, a product of the Del Monte program in Bukidnon, carded a 74 to tie with Singapore’s Marc Ong.

Zaragosa birdied the opening hole from four feet and then picked up another shot by holing his third shot from the bunker on the sixth hole, sparking a three-birdie string.

Meanwhile, Felicia Medall shot a 71 to share the ladies’ division lead with Korean Hwang Min-jeong with Miya Legaspi two strokes adrift at 73.

The best lady players in the land couldn’t get admission into the tournament because of a conflict between ICTSI and the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.