Zaragosa, Abdon eye PH Am title

MANILA—Second seed Ruperto Zaragosa bundled out Gus Mata, 3 and 2, yesterday to make the finals of the 2011 Philippine Amateur Closed championship opposite Jik-Jik Abdon and come within another victory of a rare national championship double.

The 5-foot dynamo never trailed and was, in fact, unrelenting against his seasoned foe, going as many as 4-up after the first six holes to seal a title shot in the event presented by Pancake House and SOC Land and organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Abdon, a member of the ICTSI-Canlubang squad, meanwhile, needed some gutsy plays down the stretch to hammer out a 2-up win over long-hitting Miggy Yee, the third junior player in the semifinals, and seal his best finish in three tries in the tournament.

Dottie Ardina and close friend Chihiro Ikeda, meanwhile, arranged a title clash after similar 1-up victories over Sunshine Baraquiel and top-ranked Andie Unson, respectively, in the event also backed by Great Depot, Callaway and Odyssey golf.