Zaragosa rallies from five down to rule Pueblo stop over Plete

Precious Zaragosa closes with a 68 to forge sudden death. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Just a week removed from folding up when it mattered, Precious Zaragosa on Thursday rallied from five shots down to rule the girls’ 15-18 division of the ICTSI Junior PGT Pueblo de Oro Championship in a playoff over the same player that caused her that heartbreak.

Zaragosa closed our regulation with a four-under-par 68 to catch Zero Plete at the top at 224, before dropping a four-foot putt for par on the first hole of sudden death to win for the first time in the Visayas-Mindanao circuit in two years and exorcise the ghost of Del Monte in Bukidnon last week.

“I believed I still had a chance (at the start of the day) and kept telling myself to stay focused and give my best no matter what happens,” said the 15-year-old Zaragosa. “This victory really boosts my confidence after Del Monte.

“I’m so happy to finally get my first win in the VisMin series after failing to win last year,” she added.

After signing for a 73 to drop into that 54-hole tie, Plete three-putted the first playoff hole and failed to score a follow-up to a stirring one-shot win in Bukidnon last week when she took advantage of all of Zaragosa’s miscues. Lois Laine Go placed third with a 238 after a 77.

Alexis Nailga, meanwhile, coasted to a three-shot win in the boys’ division over Martin Lun even after submitting a birdie-less 78 for a 54-hole 229 total.

The hometown bet Lu and Bukidnon standout Clement Ordeneza were unable to capitalize as both unraveled on the frontside in a punishing stretch that paved the way for Nailga’s victory, his third in the regional series.

Lu signed for his version of a 78, while Ordaneza struggled to shoot an 80.