Abdon, Saldana seal title clash in Phl Amateur

MANILA, Philippines - John Kier Abdon and Andres Saldana fended off their respective rivals in searing heat yesterday to seal an interesting showdown for the men’s title while Dottie Ardina and Javyie Agojo will dispute the girls’ crown in the Philippine Amateur Match Play (Closed) Championship at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.

The top seeded Abdon outdueled Gio Gandionco in a duel of fancied bets and carved out a 2 and 1 victory while the 11th ranked Saldana continued to dish out fine form and added second seed Jonar Austria to his growing of victims with a 3 and 2 win in the other side of the semifinal match.

Abdon, a Southwoods mainstay, won three straight holes from No. 7 then withstood a shaky finish to clinch the victory for a showdown with Saldana, the Alabang Golf Club bet who booted out higher ranked rivals in No. 6 Joey Huerva and third seed Reymon Jaraula to get a crack at the crown.

Meanwhile, organizers decided to reduce the men’s finals from the original 36-hole duel to an 18-hole showdown with the seniors finals set to fire off at 7:30 a.m. followed by the mid-am, the ladies and the men’s championship.

Ardina, meanwhile, stayed on track for a third crown in two months as she held off Philippine Amateur Open champion and ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio, 3 and 2, to reach the ladies finals of the event serving as the third leg of the Globe Amateur Golf Circuit and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

But the reigning Queen Sirikit Cup champion, who won the WWWExpress-DHL and the Kuala Lumpur Junior crowns last month, will have her hands full against Agojo, the reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open winner who trounced Sunshine Baraquiel, 3 and 1.

Top ranked Lino Magpantay likewise advanced to the finals of the seniors division with a 2&1 victory over Caloy Coscolluela while Kinitchi Kitamura took the other championship seat with a 5&4 romp over Jose Vilchez.

Fifth ranked Jingy Tuazon stunned top seed Dennis Gonzales with a surprise 4&3 romp to barge into the finals of the mid-amateur division against Sherwood club manager Raymond Bunquin, who nipped Rodel Mangulabnan, 1-up.

The event is backed by Suntrust Properties, Inc., Airphil Express, Titleist (Empire Golf), Pancake House, Golf Depot and official hotel Microtel Suites.