Zaragosa forces Jr World playoff

SAN Diego, California – Only one boy stands in the way of Rupert Zaragosa and a world crown.

The pint-sized Zaragosa held his ground in a rain-marred final-round shootout, matching par 73 on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to force a sudden-death for boys’ 11-12 years crown which was called off due to darkness at The Country Club of Rancho Bernardo course here.

Standing in his way is Norman Xiong, a San Diego native who moved to Canyon Lake recently.

It was actually a three-way playoff as Brad Dalke also pooled a five-under 214. But the erstwhile second round leader bowed out with a bogey in the first playoff hole.

Zaragoza and Xiong both made pars.

Zaragosa can give Team Philippines what could be its only victory here after Princess Superal, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas and Justin Dy fell short of their respective bids and settled for runner-up trophies.

Superal lost by a stroke to Eimi Koga of Hawaii in the girls 13-14 years division at Sycuan Resort-Oak Glen, Dy wound up just a shot behind eventual winner Jeevan Sihota of Canada in the boys 6 under years at Colina Park and Ilas lost by two to Karah Stanford of California in the girls 7-8 years at the Sycuan Resort-Pine Glen.

Dy took a heartbreaking setback as he teed off on the par-3 18th leading by one. But he bogeyed the last hole while his Canadian foe made birdie for a two-shot swing with the Filipino carding a 57 for 173 against the 55-172 of Sihota.

Superal carded a 72 for 217 but Koga won with her own 72-216 and Olivarez (56-179) bearing the brunt of a spectacular finish by Stanford (56-177) who made a hole-in-one and birdie on her last four holes.

Arnie Taguines placed third in the girls 6 under but could have done better if not for bogeys on her last two holes. Gab Manotoc finished seventh in the boys 11-12 (70-217) in his first Junior World appearance, the same finish posted by Nicole Abelar in the girls 7-8 where Missy Legaspi wound up eighth.

In the centerpiece 15-17 years division at Torrey Pines, Miguel Tabuena barged into the top seven after he broke par for the first time in three days. The 15-year-old’s 71 gave him a 54-hole aggregate of 218 but was still 11 behind Jorge Fernandez Valdes of Argentina (69-207). Marcel Puyat (70-219) was tied for 11th.

Dottie Ardina shot a 72-221 that was good for a share of seventh while Irina Gabasa shared 11th spot after a 73-223. Though Gabriela Lopez of Mexico was far ahead with her 68-212, the next five players were just separated by two strokes or less.