Zaragosa shoulders PH hope for victory

NATIONAL men’s team standout Rupert Zaragosa broke par just in time to remain as the only Philippine hope for a victory as the anticipated title challenge by Josh Jorge and Jolo Magcalayo went pfft on the third day of the IMG Academy Junior World golf championships in San Diego, California.

The pint-sized Zaragosa added a one-under 71 to a 73 and a 74 in the first two rounds at Torrey Pines south, keeping the Lyceum ace within three shots off the lead while bolstering his attempt to end a 29-year Philippine drought in the boys 15-17 years division.

Not one among the Filipinos snared a title in the first 10 age classes already decided Thursday (Friday in Manila). Japan won three as the best Asian country.

Jorge and Magcalayo were both tipped to go for the boys’ 11-12 plum after coming two and three shots off the lead overnight.

But Jorge bogeyed two of his last three holes on the way to a three-over 75 and Magcalayo never recovered from bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 and settled for a 76.

The best finisher in the lower divisions turned out to be tiny Venice Tiamsic, one of the 12 national champions flown to San Diego for free by Philippine Airlines who scored a 60 at Colina Park and placed third with a 186 total, 16 off Japan’s Miyu Shimizu.

Ever since Carito Villaroman won the 15-17 division back-to-back in 1985-86, the best PH finish was a tie for fifth by Miguel Tabuena four years ago.

How PH bets fared on Day 3:

Boys 15-17 (Torrey Pines south), par 72—Rupert Zaragosa 71-218 tied for 7th, Lanz Uy 78-229 (Missed Cut), Kristoffer Arevalo 77-231 (MC), Ryan Monsalve 76-232 (MC), Wei Wei Gao 77-237 (MC), Luis Miguel Castro 76-237 (MC). Leaders: Norman Xiong, Canyon Lake, California 75-215, Joaquin Niemann, Chile 66-215, Ashwin Arasu 67-215, Sahith Theegala, Chino Hills, California 71-215, Everton Hawkins, Irvine, California 73-215

Girls 15-17 (Torrey Pines north), par 72—Pauline del Rosario 79-224 T17, Abby Arevalo 74-226 T27, L.K Go 73-227 T33, Annika Cedo 73-230 T43, Sam Martirez 78-235 T64. Leader: Nasa Hataoka, Japan 70-208

Boys 13-14 (Morgan Run Resort), par 71—Aidric Chan 70-214 T17, Carl Corpus 74-219 T40, Weiyu Gao 76-221 T56. Winner: William Mouw, Chino, California 65-203

Girls 13-14 (Country Club of Rancho Bernardo), par 72—Harmie Constantino 75-219 T11, Kayla Nocum 73-219 T11, Sofia Chabon 73-221 T15, Bernice Ilas 74-223 T20, Mika Fortuna 76-224 T61

Boys 11-12 (Sycuan Resort Oak Glen), Par 72—Josh Jorge 75-219 T13, Jolo Magcalayo 76-221 T19, Jed Dy 73-224 T26, Pierre Ticzon 83-233 T60, Riggs Illescas 78-243 T90

Girls 11-12 (Bernardo Heights CC), par 72—Sophia Blanco 76-302 T16, Annyka Cayabyab 73-304 T21, Laia Barro 82-326 T60. Winner: Tsubasa Kajitani, Japan 68-279

Boys 9-10 (Welk Resort Fountains), par 62—Miguel Roque 69-195 T42, Sean Granada 65-198 34th, Zeus Sara 72-201 69th. Winner: S. Jaglan, India 59-119, Chokprajakchat, Thailand 63-119

Girls 9-10 (Lomas Santa Fe Executive), par 56—Burberry Zhang 58-183 16th. Winner: Alexa Pano, Florida 51-159

Boys 7-8 (Oak North), par 63—Vince Tiamsic 67-206 T20, Santino Pineda 80-228 63rd. Winner: Jinki Yano, Japan 63-183

Girls 7-8 (Sycuan Resort Pine Glen), par 57—Anya Cedo 68-198 T13, Alexi Blanco 67-198 T13. Winner: Chloe Kovelesky, Florida 60-174

Boys 6-under (Colina Park), par 54—Rocco Pineda 74-228 25th, Julienne Lhuillier 81-245 27th

Girls 6-under (Colina Park), par 54—Venice Tiamsic 60-186 3rd. Winner: Miyu Shimizu, Japan 53-170