Zaragosa, Nagai arrange title duel

MANILA, Philippines - Rupert Zaragosa and Gen Nagai disposed of their respective rivals in contrasting fashions to seal a title showdown in the NGAP’s Philippine Amateur Match Play Championship presented by MVP Sports Foundation at Cangolf’s South Course in Laguna yesterday.

Zaragosa dominated Gabriel Manotoc early and went on to post a 5&4 victory and clinch the first berth in the finals of the annual event serving as part of the PLDT Amateur Golf tour and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

Nagai, on the other hand, battled back from three holes down at frontside and frustrate burly JP de Claro, 2&1, to gain a crack for a match play crown for the first time in his young career.

“It’s going to be an interesting match,” said the 15-year-old Zaragosa, the 2011 champion. “I think it would boil down to putting.”

Zaragosa took the first two holes on a par-birdie start before going 4-up at the turn as Manotoc struggled with his putter all day and never recovered from that big deficit.

Nagai, a member of the two-time reigning PAL Interclub champion Cebu Country Club squad, pitched in from about 20 yards for birdie on No. 16 to go 1-up, then pounced on De Claro’s three-putt miscue on the 17th to wrap up the match.

Meanwhile, Team ICTSI’s Mikhaela Fortuna pulled off a 1-up upset win over top seed Daniella Uy while Felicia Medalla also stunned No. 1 Bernice Olivares-Ilas, 3&2, to arrange a clash for the ladies crown.