Rolando Bregente survived a cold putting day to edge Emilio Hernandez, 1-up, and book his place in the men’s final of the NGAP National Match Play Finals, where he will face big-hitting Shinichi Suzuki on Saturday at rain-softened Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
Bregente hung tough in the face of a torrid comeback by Hernandez, with a routine par on the 18th hole enough to seal the victory and halt Hernandez’s rally after the latter had cut a three-down deficit entering the final four holes.
Bregente’s victory came as Precious Zaragosa also secured a finals berth in the ladies’ division, eliminating Lisa Sarines, 2&1, to set up a championship showdown with top seed Grace Quintanilla.
(C) NGAP
“I really struggled to make putts, even from as close to driver length attempts,” the 24-year-old Bregente said in Filipino as he guns for the national title missing from his impressive collection of trophies. Standing in his way is 18-year-old Suzuki, a seasoned internationalist who bundled out Ralph Batican, 2&1.
(C) NGAP
“It would really be an interesting match,” Bregente said of his clash with Suzuki, a long-time member of the Philippine pool who is coming off a stint in the US Men’s Amateur. “He outhits me by a considerable distance. It’s going to be a tough match.”
Like Bregente, Zaragosa is also seeking her first match play crown and her first national title in the ladies’ division, after winning the Girls’ Amateur Championship in May last year.
“I am super excited to play in the finals,” the 15-year-old Zaragosa said after winning three consecutive holes from No. 15 to take control and end Sarines’ bid for a double championship after she ran away with the Strokeplay Championship last week at Pradera Verde.
Zaragosa drained a birdie from pin-length on the picturesque 17th to go 1-up and put herself in position to add to the collection of national titles won by her older brother, now-pro Rupert, during his storied amateur career that saw him winning championships since he was just 14.
“That’s a motivation, to follow in his footsteps,” Precious said as she prepares to face Quintanilla in a match play setting for the first time. She added that she is ready for the challenge. “There are no nerves, just excitement for Saturday.”
(C) NGAP
Quintanilla, meanwhile, is in line to win a second national title in less than a month after capturing the Singapore Am Open championship following a five-hole playoff victory over Xiziyan Wang of Hong Kong-China last July 18.
The Texas State University standout, who skipped the Strokeplay event, proved too much for Nicole Gan, scoring a 4&2 victory that underscored her readiness to go all the way.
