Zaragosa caps title repeat with 69

RUPERT Zaragosa closed out with a three-under-par 69 yesterday and repeated as WWWExpress DHL RVF Amateur Golf champion, winning by three shots over a hard-fighting Brian Kim at Canlubang’s tree-lined North layout in Laguna.

Starting out with a four-shot lead, Zaragosa rose to the challenge in the final nine when Kim came within one, gunning down four straight birdies from No. 10 before rescuing crucial pars to tally 275.

“It did not bother me,” Zaragosa said of Kim’s late charge as he added the prestigious event to his growing collection of titles, including five national titles.

Kim, who held the lead after the first two rounds, fired a 68 highlighted by a string of four birdies going out.

Another Korean, Park Min-ung, couldn’t keep in step with the torrid scoring of Zaragosa and Kim, floundering with a 76 for 288, barely nipping national pool member Justin Quiban, who fired a 73.

Choi Ye-rim also held off all pursuers to rule the women’s side in her first try, firing a 72 for 210 and a three-shot win over Bianca Pagdanganan.

Pagdanganan also shot a 72 with Felicia Medalla bagging third spot, another eight shots back, after a 75.

Annika Cedo was fourth at 223 after a 77, with Korean Hwang Min-jeong shooting a 71 for 224.  Musong R. Castillo