GOLF
Bregente is top seed;Mona, Lisa clash
Lisa Sarines’ bid for a rare Stroke Play-Match Play double will begin with a family showdown against her twin sister, Mona, in the opening round of the knockout stage.
Rolando Bregente fired an even-par 72 in rainy conditions on Wednesday to secure the No. 1 seed in the men’s division of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) Match Play Championship at soggy Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
In the women’s bracket, Lisa Sarines’ bid for a rare Stroke Play-Match Play double will begin with a family showdown against her twin sister, Mona, in the opening round of the knockout stage.
Bregente, a member of the national pool, finished the 36-hole qualifying at 5-under 139 after rounds of 67 and 72. Filipino-Japanese Shinichi Suzuki claimed the No. 2 seed with a second-round 70 for 141, while reigning Philippine Amateur Open Stroke Play champion Jet Hernandez secured the third seed after a 74 for 142.
“I think half the challenge this week was making it to the match play stage,” said Hernandez, who won last week’s Stroke Play title by 22 shots over Bregente and Chris Remata. “I actually don’t care what ranking I got.”
Hernandez will face multiple Junior Philippine Golf Tour leg winner Alexis Nailga, who qualified 14th after rounds of 78 and 75.
Bregente takes on No. 16 seed Ronel Taga-an, who advanced with an 80, while the 6-foot-3 Suzuki meets Geoffrey Tan in the Round of 16. The quarterfinals will also be played on Wednesday afternoon.
Among the featured matchups is 14-year-old Ralph Batican, a protégé of Philippine golf legend Frankie Miñoza, against Jacob Casuga. Batican earned the sixth seed after shooting a second-round 74.
Mhark Fernando III, son of former champion Mhark Fernando Sr., will face fellow teenager Bobe Salahog, who qualified as the eighth seed after rounds of 73 and 74.
On the women’s side, Lisa Sarines, who dominated last week’s Stroke Play Championship, said she values the Match Play title even more. Standing in her way, however, is her twin sister.
“I’m sure she’s rooting for both of us to win, but that just can’t happen,” Lisa said of their mother, Dang, who has accompanied the sisters to every tournament. “It will be a very tough match because she is also playing well.”
Reigning Singapore Amateur Open champion Grace Quintanilla captured the top seed after a second-round 70 for 142 and will face No. 8 seed Brittany Tamayo.
National team stalwart Ally Gaccion qualified second after carding a 73 and will meet 15-year-old Precious Zaragosa, who rebounded from a disappointing Stroke Play campaign by posting rounds of 76 and 73 to secure the seventh seed.
Another intriguing match pits Nicole Gan of Immaculate Conception Academy against Cebu star Tashanah Balangauan.
The pairings:
MEN
Bobe Salahog vs Thirdy Fernando
Jed Dy vs Lukeshvarunaa Elangkovan
Apollo Batican vs Jacob Casuga
Jacob Rolida vs Patrick Tambalque
Emil Hernandez vs Edison Tabalin
Jet Hernandez vs Alexis Nailga
Shinichi Suzuki vs Geoffrey Tan
Rolando Bregente vs Ronel Taga-an
WOMEN
Nicole Gan vs Tashanah Balangauan
Mona Sarines vs Lisa Sarines
Ally Gaccion vs Precious Zaragosa
Grace Quintanila vs Brittany Tamayo