Zaragosa retains Phl Junior Amateur crown

MANILA, Philippines - Rupert Zaragosa overwhelmed top seed Basti Lorenzo, 6&5, to keep the NGAP-Globe Circuit’s Philippine Junior Amateur (Closed) crown at the Alabang Country Club yesterday and herald his comeback from a month-long layoff following a freak accident.

Zaragosa bucked Lorenzo’s birdie on No. 3 with his own birdie on No. 5 and another on the seventh to turn a one-hole deficit into a 2-up lead at the turn before hitting two more birdies in two of the first five holes at the back to cruise to victory in the centerpiece event of the tournament backed by Pancake House, Titleist and Golf Depot.

Kristoffer Arevalo topped the boy’s Group 2 side with a 2&1 victory over Christopher Popp while the top-ranked Mia Legaspi dominated the girls’ Group I finals with a 4&3 romp over Daniella Uy.

Pauleen del Rosario, meanwhile, ruled girls’ Group 2 with a 3&2 win over Bernice Ilas.