Zaragoza, Agustin post contrasting wins in sealing top rankings

Precious Zaragosa in action during the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series 7 at Sherwood Hills. –HANDOUT PHOTO

Precious Zaragosa fired a five-over-par 77 on Thursday, pulling away from Kendra Garingalao in the back nine to win girls’ 13-15 division the ICTSI Junior PGT Luzon Series 7 by nine shots at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

More than winning again, Zaragosa sealed top ranking in her division for the National Match Play Championship set to be played at The Country Club in Laguna from Oct. 1-4, and with that, the lightest possible assignment in the first round.

The champion at Splendido Taal and Luisita, Zaragosa now has an idea on how to more or less deal with the conditions at TCC, arguably the toughest test in the country owing to its sheer length and the winds that usually buffet the layout at this time of the year.

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“I’ll be focusing on my short game for the finals,” said Zaragosa, the younger sister of many-time national champion and local touring pro Rupert after she wound up with a 54-hole 234 tally.

While Zaragosa waltzed to the win, the boys’ 13-15 fight was settled only in the closing holes where John Paul Agustin survived a late rally by Jose Carlos Taruc to win by a shot.

Agustin closed out with an 81 because of a bogey-double bogey finish for 241 as Taruc nearly completed a comeback from five shots down at the start of the day and carded a 77.

READ: Suzuki, Zaragosa take early command at JPGT Sherwood Hills

Agustin’s victory also sealed No. 1 seeding in the finals, with Taruc settling for second and John Majgen Gomez and Matthias Espina securing the last two spots.

“I played aggressively on some holes and took a safer approach on others,” said Agustin, who overcame a shoulder strain to cap off a stellar performance in the final two legs.

“I had to make some adjustments in the first four holes, but once I found my rhythm, I played much better.”

Agustin said that the focus before going to TCC is to heal his ailing shoulder first.

“Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll dive deep into practice to get ready for the finals,” he said.