Quiban best in qualifier, arranges duel with Manotoc

MANILA, Philippines - Justin Quiban slowed down with a one-under 71 after a 69 but still topped the 36-hole qualifying stage to arrange a showdown with Gabriel Manotoc in the knockout stage of the Philippine Amateur Match Play Championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation at Orchard’s Palmer layout in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Quiban tallied 140 for the 36-hole classification phase of the event forming part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports with former champion Rupert Zaragosa finishing second with a 144 after a 70.

Zaragosa faces Ira Alido in today’s start of the match play phase.

Antonio Asistio finished third with a 149, edging former Junior Am champion Park Min-ung of Korea in the countback.

Veteran Eddie Bagtas floundered with an 87 to finish at 25th for a clash with up-and-coming Raymart Tolentino, who cracked in the final round and yielded the Junior Am crown to Gen Nagai at Sherwood Hills Golf Club recently.

Nagai, meanwhile, carded a 75 to finish sixth and seal a clash with Carlo Gatmaitan even as 13-14 World Junior champion Kristopher Arevalo ended up No. 10 and will play Ryan Monsalve for a place in the Final 16.

Pamela Mariano battles Korean expat Yang Ju-young in the first round of women’s play as the top two seeds – Bianca Pagdanganan and Daniela Uy – drew first round byes.

Pagdanganan matched par 72 for 151 while Uy shot a 75 for a 153.