Newly crowned Singapore Amateur Open champion Grace Quintanilla made her return to local competition in impressive fashion on Tuesday, carding a level-par 72 to sit comfortably in contention after the first of two qualifying rounds of the NGAP National Match Play Championship at the scenic Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
The 19-year-old Quintanilla shook off the rust with a one-birdie, one-bogey round on the tree-lined course — her first tournament since July 18 when she outlasted Hong Kong-China’s Xizihan Wang in a marathon five-hole playoff to capture the Singapore Amateur Open at the Bukit course.
Ally Gaccion, the other member of the Philippine team that competed in Singapore, also got off to a strong start, sharing the lead with Mona Sarines after both fired one-under-par 71s.
In the men’s division, Rolando Bregente seized the solo lead with a five-under 67, one stroke ahead of reigning Stroke Play champion Jet Hernandez.
Only the top eight players in the women’s division will advance to the knockout stage beginning Thursday, while the top 16 men will move on.
Lisa Sarines — who previously said this tournament holds greater significance for her than last week’s Stroke Play Championship victory at Pradera Verde — shot a 74 to tie for sixth with Jules Gaerlan, putting her on a potential collision course with Quintanilla in match play.
Nicole Gan sits fourth with a 73, while Brittany Tamayo is seventh after a 75. Tashanah Balangauan and Precious Zaragosa are tied for eighth after matching 76s.
Lois Lane Go, a member of Cebu’s renowned golfing family, carded a 78 to remain within striking distance, alongside Jordan Ouano and Marqaela Dy, who both opened with 79s.
Meanwhile, Hernandez — who captured last week’s men’s Stroke Play Championship by a staggering 22 strokes at the Pinatubo course in Lubao, Pampanga — opened with a 68 and is aiming to complete a sweep of the country’s two biggest amateur titles. His familiarity with the tree-lined Luisita layout gives him added confidence.
“I have a lot of fond memories on this course,” the 21-year-old University of Denver standout said after a round highlighted by five birdies against a lone bogey.
Shinichi Suzuki also returned to national competition and carded a 71, matching Emilio Hernandez. Patrick Tambalque, who, like Suzuki and Hernandez, represents Manila Southwoods, is in fifth place after an even-par 72.
Ralph Batican, the Bukidnon standout who has been taken under the wing of golfing great Frankie Miñoza, shot a 73 to join Ronel Taga-An, Jet Dy, and Bobe Salahog.
