Langamin overwhelms Zaragosa

USING a hot start in the morning round of their 36-hole duel, Noel Langamin went on to shock the fancied Rupert Zaragosa, 3 and 2, for the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play championship yesterday at Orchard in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Langamin sat on a six-hole lead after the first 18 holes and returned in the afternoon to thwart numerous rallies by the multititled Zaragosa using precise iron plays for the biggest victory of his career.

A product of the Del Monte program in Bukidnon, Langamin—like the rest in the lean field—wasn’t given much of a chance in the tournament with the presence of Zaragosa, a winner of no less than eight national titles and hands-down, the best player in the ranks.

But a sizzling start swung the momentum in favor of the 26-year-old Langamin, who shared the winner’s podium with South Korea’s Hwang Min-jeong, who posted a 4-and-2 triumph over Diana Araneta for the women’s championship.

Langamin’s greatest claim to fame was his part in the 2011 Del Monte team that ruled the PAL Interclub in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.

Hwang also used a solid start to thwart Araneta, going 2-up after the morning round.

It was the second major win for the 16-year-old Hwang, who ruled a leg of the ICTSI Ladies Tour at Malarayat last year.

Yuto Katsuragawa, a 16-year-old Japanese playing out of Southwoods, clipped Luigi Guerrero, 3 and 1, for third place in men’s play.

Kristine Torralba was second runner-up in the women’s side after a 1-up win over Jona Magcalayo.