Puyat succumbs to Japanese No. 1 bet

MANILA, Philippines - Marcel Puyat bundled out another fancied player in Taylor Gooch on the 19th hole but lost to Japan’s No. 1 junior player Shuugo Imahira in the Last 16 to settle for joint ninth in the 62nd US Juniors Amateur at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey Thursday.

Puyat failed to match Imahira’s hot putter in their afternoon duel for berth in the quarters as the Japanese kept on sinking long putts to seize control en route to a 3&2 victory. Imahira rolled in a 35-footer on the first hole, knocked in a 14-footer on the next and never missed a putt until the 12th. He used his putter only 10 times in the first nine holes, maintaining his 2-up lead all throughout the rain-drenched match.

Earlier, the ICTSI-backed bet, who shocked fancied Anthony Paolucci, 1-up, in the first round of match play, nipped Gooch on the 19th hole to gain a spot in the Last 16.

An ICTSI academic and golf scholar, Puyat will be attending the Champions Golf Academy in Sarasota, Florida in September where noted swing guru Tim Sheredy is the golf instruction director.

Despite his setback to Imahira, Puyat’s joint ninth finish in the No. 1 junior golf tournament in the US and his fifth-place effort in last week’s Junior World in San Diego augured well for his US campaign. With enough Polo ranking points, Puyat gained invitation to play in the Junior Players Championship in Saw Grass, Ponte Vedra in September. It also firmed up his bid for a spot in the AJGA-Ping Invitational, another top-level junior tournament, in Oklahoma in October.

Over in Tennessee, Cyna Rodriguez and Anya Tanpinco both hurdled their Last 32 assignments but faltered in their quarterfinal bids in the 79th Women’s Trans-National Amateur Championship at the Tennessee National Golf Club in Loudon Thursday.

Rodriguez outlasted Sarah Thread, 3&1, in the morning match but bowed to Julia Boland, 1-up, in their Last 16 duel, while Tanpinco nipped Chelsea Stelzmiler, 1-up, in the Last 32 but succumbed to Corinna Rees, 3&2, in the afternoon match.