Zaragosa pads lead to 5 shots

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite, Philippines – Rupert Zaragosa moved closer to a third national title, shooting a one-over-par 73 yesterday for a five-shot lead over AR Ramos going into the final 18 holes of the NGAP’s Philippine Junior Amateur Closed championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Sherwood Hills.

The 15-year-old, who won both the men’s and junior match play titles in 2011, had two bogeys in the front nine and one birdie at the back for a 219 aggregate in the event that is part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot, Pacsports and Microtel Eagle Ridge.

Ramos, who played for Alabang in the last PAL Interclub, matched Zaragosa’s 73 for 224, with Justin Quiban shooting a 74 to be another shot back and Gabriel Manotoc failing to solve the sleek greens to practically bow out of it all at 228 after a horrendous 79.

Princess Superal all but put the girls’ title in the bag, cracking par for the second straight day, her 69 ushering her to a 12-stroke lead over Daniela Uy, who fired a 76 like Pauleen Del Rosario, who was another stroke back.

Regan de Guzman, meanwhile, opened up a four-stroke lead over Cyna Rodriguez in the special 17-21 bracket after shooting a 67 for 211 overall.

Rodriguez, the former Philippine Ladies’ champion who, like De Guzman is on a golfing scholarship in the United States, could do no better than a 71 and would need a very big round today to catch De Guzman.

Sherwood Hills, which is being toughened up for the Putra Cup later in the month, has not yet yielded a sub-par card to any of the participants in the boys’ division, with the opening 72s of Zaragosa and Manotoc proving to be the best scores thus far.

Andres Saldana also zoomed away in the 17-21 boys event after firing a 76 for 230, nine strokes clear of Ian De Claro, who ballooned to an 83.