Nagai, Park, Zaragosa move to quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines - Gen Nagai of Japan and Korean expat Park Min-ung swept past two rivals each yesterday to join local ace Rupert Zaragosa in the quarterfinal round of the Philippine Junior Amateur Open match play championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at the Alabang Country Club.

The top seeded Nagai, the reigning junior stroke play champion, needed just 12 holes to beat Jaime Patnogon, 7&6, in morning play then trounced Liam Cully, 4&2, in the second round of the knockout stage of the event backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

The second-ranked Park, on the other hand, whipped Karl Dela Torre, 7&5 in the first round before outlasting Carlo Gatmaitan, 2&1, for a spot in the Last 8.

Aiming to hold both the men’s and boys’ national titles for the second time in his career, Zaragosa also cruised to a 7&6 win over Paqo Barro but needed to toughen up against Idric Chan before hacking out a 1-up win.

Chan bundled out Kang Min, 4&2, in the first round.

Girls’ top seed Princess Superal also advanced but not after a scary 1-up victory over ICTSI teammate Samantha Martirez, while No. 2 Mikhaela Fortuna, also of the crack ICTSI squad, advanced after edging Gabriel Nikhaella Bruce, 2&1.

Basti Lorenzo sealed a quarterfinal clash with Zaragosa after a 6&5 win over Jed Dy. The third-ranked Lorenzo earlier ousted Enrique Diaz, 6&5.

The winner of the Zaragosa-Lorenzo match could go on to face Park in the Final Four. Park will battle Ryan Monsalve, a 2&1 winner over Carl Corpuz, in the quarterfinals. Monsalve eliminated Gabriel Manotoc in the first round after 20 holes.

Nagai next clashes with Ramir Roque, a 6&5 winner over giant-killer Ira Alido, for a place in the top four. Alido showed 13-14 junior world champion Kristopher Arevalo the door after 19 holes.

Raymart Tolentino, the stroke play leader going into the final round at Sherwood Hills three weeks ago, also made it safely to the quarters after scoring similar 4&3 victories over Lester Lagman and Lanz Uy.

Tolentino will be gunning for a place in the Final Four – and a potential clash with the long-hitting Nagai – against Luigi Paolo Wong today. Wong first bundled out Carlo Villaroman, 5&4, before shooting down Ivan Monsalve, 6&5