Gandionco still red-hot, wins by five

CEBU—Local bet Gio Gandionco recovered from a sluggish start with a fiery final round while Rupert Zaragosa survived a last-day struggle in clinching the titles in their respective divisions in the recent second leg of the Frankie Miñoza Junior Golf Circuit at the rolling Alta Vista Golf and Country Club course here.

Gandionco showed why he’s the country’s hottest player in his age group when he bounced back from a 74 in the opening round with a sizzling five-under-par 67 the next day to race to a five-stroke win in boys’ Class A.

With a 141 total for 36 holes, the scion of one of the country’s biggest bakeshop chains, finished comfortably ahead of Alta Vista’s David Park (72-74-146) and Aris Mata (74-73-147) for his second straight victory in the series.

It was a different story but the same result for Canlubang bet Zaragosa who was playing just in his second event since getting back in the groove from a freak but life-threatening accident at his home club that sidelined him for two months.

Zaragosa was not at his best on the final day but still pounded out a similar five-shot win in boys’ Class B  with his 75-73-148 effort in the tourney held under the aegis of the ICTSI Junior Golf Circuit organized by the Frankie Miñoza Jungolf Foundation and Alta Vista Golf sanctioned by Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Second place went to Raymart Tolentino of Aguinaldo (80-73-153) while first leg winner Jelbert Gamolo of Del Monte (77-79-156).