Korean teen rallies, wins Cangolf-Petron Am

CANLUBANG, Laguna, Philippines – South Korean teener Park Ming-ung on Friday pounced on Rupert Zaragosa’s collapse in the final four holes, gutting out a closing one-under-par 71 to rule the 14th Canlubang-Petron Amateur Open golf championship at the complex’ South course here.

Starting the day three shots behind and falling back by as many as four going into the final four holes, Ung seized the moment with Zaragosa’s faltering finish, denying the pint-sized Filipino the title he wants badly to win.

Ung tallied 211 after 54 holes over the up-and-down layout, with another Korean expat, Jung Tea-yang, salvaging second place a stroke behind after a final round 72.

After cracking par in the first two rounds and taking a three-shot lead over the Korean pair going into the final 18 holes, Zaragosa returned an uncharacteristic 76 over the course he calls home for 213.

Gen Nagai, the Japanese playing out of the exclusive Cebu Country Club, carved out a 70 and was fourth at 216 like John Kier Abdon, who fired a 73. Kristopher Arevalo, a reigning Junior World champion, also closed out with a 76 for 219.

Three more Koreans finished inside the Top 10, while Gabriel Manotoc finished alone in eighth spot at 223 after a 77. Basti Lorenzo, another junior standout, fired a 74 and claimed a 10th place tie with Park Min-cheol, who fired a 75, for 226.

The Top 16 players will advance to the NGAP’s Philippine Match Play championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation starting tomorrow also at Canlubang.  

Daniella Uy ruled the ladies’ division by three shots over young Bernice Olivares-Ilas, closing out with a 70 for 138, to lead seven others into the match play stages.

Ilas fired a 69, while Harmie Constantino returned a second straight 74 for third, 10 strokes off. Michaela Fortuna was fourth at 150 after 70.