Jet Hernandez and Lisa Sarines capped a dominant week in emphatic fashion, as the final round of the NGAP National Strokeplay Championship on Saturday merely confirmed what had been evident throughout the tournament before they officially claimed the men’s and women’s titles.
The 21-year-old Hernandez fired a two-under-par 70 to finish with a 72-hole total of 269, good for 19-under overall at the Pinatubo course of Pradera Verde. He cruised to a commanding 22-shot victory over fellow national team members Chris Remata and Rolando Bregente.
Sarines, meanwhile, carded a 76 to wrap up a convincing 15-shot triumph over Tashanah Balangauan in the women’s division.
“I feel like the work that I have put in the last two years–the swing change and everything else–has really come to fruition,” said Hernandez, an incoming psychology senior at the University of Denver. “I really came out today with a personal goal of going bogey-free.
“But I had some misfortune on No. 14. That’s golf, and it is what it is.”
Hernandez opened the tournament with a bogey-free 65 on Wednesday before pulling away the following day with 10 birdies in another 65 that effectively set the tone for his runaway victory.
In all, Hernandez tallied 20 birdies and two eagles against just five bogeys in a remarkable display of scoring, making him a strong favorite to complete a golden double at next week’s National Match Play Championship, which begins Tuesday at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
“I’m not hiding the fact that I also would want to win that, because I am a competitor,” Hernandez said. “But that’s a very different tournament. I have to get into the right mindset, prepare myself mentally for that.”
Remata broke par for the first time this week with a 70, matching Hernandez’s final-round score to finish tied with Bregente at 291. Bregente stumbled home with three bogeys over his last five holes for a 74. Jacob Rolida placed fourth at 293 after another 74, while Jed Dy rounded out the top five at 295 following a closing 76.
Sarines, on the other hand, comfortably cruised to the title despite posting her highest round of the week. Her final-round 76 was marred by a double bogey on the par-4 15th.
Even then, her victory remained emphatic, as no player in the field managed to outscore her in any round of the tournament. Balangauan and Precious Zaragosa both shot 76s in the final round to complete the podium.
Zaragosa, the 15-year-old standout from Canlubang, finished five strokes behind Balangauan. Jules Gaerlan and Crista Minoza tied for fourth, another six shots back after matching 76s.
