Zaragosa shoots 70, wrests Sta. Lucia lead

National team mainstay Rupert Zaragosa assembled a 2-under-par 70  Thursday to wrest a one-shot lead over Park Min-ung after two rounds of the Sta. Lucia Amateur Open at the Palmer course of Orchard in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Zaragosa, the reigning national champion, canned four birdies, the last two coming in succession from the fifth, for a 146 total as Park, who beat Zaragosa for the National Boys’ Match Play title a couple of years back, shot a 76 to yield the lead.

Another Korean expatriate, Kim Tom, carded a 75 for 149.

Korean Hwang Min-jeong added a 71 to a first-round 73 to take a two-shot lead over Bianca Pagdanganan in women’s play.

Hwang has a 144 total with Pagdangan toting 146 after a 73.

TJ Benitez, a club member, fired a 74 to grab the Men’s Class A lead, with former club champion Tonito Payumo and another member, Derrico Dimaunahan, three shots off with 77s.

Riane Casquejo paced Class B after an 80, with former Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) president Marissa Romano shooting an 81 for the Ladies Class A lead.

Mario Lugay and Nestor Sevilla fired 73s to share the senior lead.