Bregente tops Match Play qualifiers, eyes redemption; Quintanilla shines
MANILA, Philippines — Rolando Bregente bounced back from a disappointing campaign in last week's National Stroke Play Championship by topping the 36-hole qualifying of the NGAP’s Match Play Championship Wednesday. He thus earned the No. 1 seed and carrys plenty of momentum into the knockout stage at the soggy Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
The national pool standout followed his opening-round 67 with an even-par 72 for a 36-hole total of 139, comfortably topping the stroke-play eliminations despite easing off after his dominant opening round.
Bregente will open the head-to-head phase against No. 16 Ronel Taga-an, who struggled to an 80 after a first-round 73 to finish at 153.
Shinichi Suzuki, who skipped last week's National Stroke Play Championship at Pradera Verde, secured the No. 2 seed at 141 after a 70 highlighted by three birdies against a lone bogey. He will face Geoffrey Tan, who slipped to a 78 to also finish at 153 and claim the 15th seed.
Fresh from his runaway victory in the Stroke Play Championship, Jet Hernandez remained on course for a sweep of the NGAP's premier national titles, finishing third in qualifying at 142 after a second-round 74.
The 21-year-old national pool stalwart, who opened with a 68, appeared headed for another strong round before stumbling late with a double bogey on No. 16 and a bogey on the next to settle for No. 3.
"I think half the challenge this week was making it to the match play stage," said Hernandez. "I actually don't care what ranking I got."
Hernandez expects to regain his form in the knockout rounds, where he takes on Bukidnon's Alexis Nailga, who carded a 75 for a 153 total and the No. 14 seed.
In the women's division, newly crowned Singapore Amateur Open champion Grace Quintanilla rebounded from a 72 with a 71 to secure low medal honors at 143 and the top seed entering match play.
Quintanilla will face South Cotabato's Brittany Tamayo, who shot a 76 to finish eighth at 151.
Ally Gaccion and Mona Sarines, who shared the first-round lead with 71s, both closed with 73s to finish tied at 144. Gaccion, however, claimed the No. 2 seed and will meet No. 7 Precious Zaragosa, who fired a 73 for a 149 total.
Sarines settled for the No. 3 seed, setting up a much-anticipated family showdown with twin sister Lisa Sarines, last week's Stroke Play champion, who also carded a 73 to finish sixth at 147.
"I'm sure she's rooting for both of us to win, but that just can't happen," said Lisa, referring to their mother, Dang. "It will be a very tough match because she is also playing well."
Nicole Gan secured the fourth seed at 146 after a 73 and will take on No. 5 Tashanah Balanguan, who fired a 71 to also finish at 147 in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.
The quarterfinals will also be played Thursday afternoon, placing an even greater premium on stamina, consistency and match-play strategy.
Meanwhile, Emilio Hernandez matched par with a 72 to finish fourth at 143 and arrange a first-round duel with Edison Tabalin, who shot an 80 for a 152 total.
Jacob Rolida also impressed with a 70 to claim the fifth seed at 144 and a duel against fancied Patrick Tambalque, who likewise posted an 80 for a 152 aggregate.
The other men's first-round pairings feature Ralph Batican (147) against Jacob Casuga (152), Jed Dy (147) versus Singapore's Lukeshvarunaa Elangkovan (151), and Bobe Salahog (147) against Mhark Fernando III (151).
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