Palanca, Araneta nail F4 slots

Philippe Palanca and Diana Araneta stunned their quarterfinal opponents yesterday to arrange Final Four duels with Korean foes in Division 1 of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Chairman’s Cup at Ayala South Links course in Las Piñas.

The seventh-seeded Palanca shocked No. 2 Ira Alido, 2-up, in the quarterfinals after winning on the last hole of his Round-of-16 match with Paqo Barro.

Araneta disposed of Marc Corrales and Burberry Zhang in succession to also clinch a semifinal ticket in the tournament hosted by JGFP chair Gerry Handog.

Palanca meets Yong Jun-young while Araneta battles Kim Hyung-joong today for the right to dispute the title in the afternoon.

In Division 2, top seed Guilbert Purcia, Vito Manalili, Laia Barro and Gab Subido all advanced to the semifinals.

Purcia bundled out Chad Lazaro, 2-up, in the Round-of-16, then won over Javi Lazatin, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals to claim a seat in the Final Four opposite Manalili.

Manalili first beat Matthew Abalos, 2-up, before ousting Ice Miravite, 3 and 2.

Barro bested Israel Macatangay, 4 and 2, then nipped Rev Alcantara, 2 up, in the last 8.

Purcia collides with Manalili while Barro faces Subido in the tournament supported by Cleanpak, Inc., IWSI, IWS Cleantech, and HIGDI with the support of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Philippine Airlines and Philippine Golf Foundation.