Zaragosa, Fil-Am pace Phl Am

MANILA, Philippines - Rupert Zaragosa and Fil-Am Putra Cup recruit Jonathan Delos Reyes turned in a pair of one-under 71s yesterday to share a one-stroke lead over Rico Hoey at the start of the Philippine Amateur Closed golf championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at the Sherwood Hills Golf and Country Club in Trece Martirez, Cavite yesterday.

Zaragosa, 15, rammed in four birdies but flubbed at least two par putts from short range, enabling Delos Reyes to tie him with a 34-37 card in his first tournament on Philippine soil.

The 17-year-old Hoey, set to play in US NCAA Division I for the University of Southern California in August, salvaged a 72 with a late birdie while Andres Saldaña carded a 73 to stay two strokes off the pace in the 72-hole event serving as part of the PLDT Amateur Golf Tour.

Justin Quiban, JP De Claro and Cebu Country Club’s Lloyd Jefferson Go struggled and ended up with 75s in the tournament backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

“There’s no pressure, even though I would want to win this title badly,” said Zaragosa.

“Rupert can really play,” said Delos Reyes. “This is a tough course with a tough field. Anything can happen in the last three rounds.”

Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan took the early lead in women’s play, leaning on a 35 at the back where she teed off for a 74 and a one-stroke lead of Team ICTSI’s Sophia Chabon while Pauline del Rosario and Chanele Avaricio posted identical 76s.

Bernice Ilas stood three shots behind Pagdanganan with a 77 while Regina de Guzman and Louis Kaye Go carded similar 78s and Simone Hoey skied to a 79.