Match Play Finals: Bregente vs Suzuki

MANILA, Philippines — Rolando Bregente survived a cold putting day to ease past Emilio Hernandez, with a 1-up win propelling the men’s top seed into the NGAP’s National Match Play Finals against big-hitting Shinichi Suzuki today at Luisita in Tarlac.

Bregente hung tough in the face of a torrid comeback by Hernandez, with a routine par on No. 18 enough to seal the deal and stop cold a Hernandez rally from three-down entering their final four holes, even as Precious Zaragosa eliminated Lisa Sarines, 2&1, to make the ladies’ final opposite No. 1 Grace Quintanilla.

“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 a national title that is missing in his big collection of trophies against the 18-year-old Suzuki, the seasoned internationalist who bundled out Ralph Batican, 2&1.

“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 shooting for a first match play crown – and a first national title in the ladies division that could come after she won the Girls’ Am May of last year.

“I am super excited to play in the finals,” the 15-year-old Zaragosa said.