Park, Zaragosa match play showdown looms

Park Min-ung of Korea and local favorite Rupert Zaragosa scored a pair of victories each yesterday to reach the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Amateur Junior Match Play championship at Alabang Golf Club.

Park, a former champion of this tournament like Zaragosa, posted contrasting victories, crushing Polo Lauron, 5 and 4, before nipping Jolo Magcalayo, 1-up, to advance opposite young Dan Emilio Cruz.

Zaragosa hardly broke up a sweat in bundling out Ryu Rolida, 9 and 8, and Korea’ Myeung-hun, 6 and 4.

Up next for Zaragosa is Jacky Mabaylan, a 1-up winner over Gido Mandanas.

Cruz knocked out Paqo Barro, 6 and 5, before returning in the afternoon to deal Carl Corpus a 2-and-1 defeat.

In the girl’s side, top-ranked Yuka Saso, the former ICTSI squad member, scored a 5-and-3 win over Samantha Green and advanced against the talented Annika Cedo in the quarterfinals.

Cedo, who is being trained by father Jun, posted an 8-and-7 whipping of Annika Guangko.

Harmie Constantino, the winner of the women’s stroke play championship just two weeks ago, also advanced after a 6-and-5 victory over Diana Araneta.

Korea’s Hwang Min-jeong will be Constantino’s next foe after scoring a 3-up win over the up-and-coming Lois Kaye Go of Cebu. Musong R. Castillo