Zaragosa survives playoff, wins SL Tour

General Trias, Cavite, Philippines – Rupert Zaragosa survived a two-hole playoff in an exciting finale over Carlo Villaroman to squeeze out a hard-earned victory in the Sta. Lucia Amateur Tour’s inaugural leg at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Villaroman, down by one after the second round, wound up with 72 to tie Zaragosa (73) at the helm at 218 in the Open Division that set up the sudden death at the Aoki course in the five-leg tour by Sta. Lucia Land Inc. (SLLI).

They made regular pars on the first hole on the 18th before the more experienced Zaragosa, 17, cruised to a par then watched the 14-year-old Villaroman missed the green on the approach for a bogey finish.

“Rupert played like a veteran in the extension,” said SLLI chairman Vicente Santos, whose team revamped the tour to help in the country’s development for amateur golf.

Aniceto Mandanas (71) came in third with 223 in the event serving as one of National Golf Association of the Philippines’ qualifiers for the selection of the national squad to the SEA Games in July.

Club bet Dan Emilio Cruz (75) and Raymart Tolentino (78) were fourth with 224s in the event sponsored by Wilcon, Davies Paints, Pomelo Tee, and Gatorade.

 Harmie Constantino (76-228) won in the ladies championship.  Jung Kyung-young (76-149) and Kim Bong-suk (84-172) ruled the men’s Class A and B, respectively, and Laia Barro (89-194) won in Class A ladies.