PH Jr Am: Korean holds off hot Zaragosa

Korean expatriate Park Min-ung held off a charging Rupert Zaragosa by shooting a 1-under-par 71 yesterday to stay in front by two strokes after three rounds of the Philippine Junior Amateur stroke play championship at Sherwood Hills.

The 15-year-old Park, who won this event in 2013 also at the expense of Zaragosa, finished with a 54-hole 212 tally and saw his overnight four-shot lead dwindle to half as the pint-sized Filipino fired a 69.

Lanz Uy also shot a 71 and moved up to third at 219 but with a lot of catching up to do in the last 18 holes.

“I have to match him shot-for-shot on the final day,” Park said as he tries to deny Zaragosa his first junior stroke play title. Zaragosa already won the men’s version of the event and is a six-time national champion.

Dan Cruz shot a 74, Kristoffer Arevalo fired a 76 and Wei Wei Gao submitted a 79 to tie at 229.

Koh Eun-A, meanwhile, put herself in position for a Korean double after matching par 72 for 219 and a one-stroke lead over Samantha Bruce in girl’s play.

Bruce fired a 70, with two-day leader Harmie Constantino ballooning to a 78 for 223. Musong R. Castillo