Suzuki, Quintanilla take opposite paths to national titles

Shinichi Suzuki was simply dominant in winning his first Philippine Amateur title, while Grace Quintanilla labored truly hard for 36 holes before adding a second national crown in as many countries in a span of less than a month.

That was how things went at rain-drenched Luisita on Saturday, with Suzuki pulling out an 8&7 win over Rolando Bregente and the 19-year-old Quintanilla chalking up a 1-up victory over hard-fighting Precious Zaragosa.

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“I got off to a very slow start,” the 6-foot-3 Suzuki told the Inquirer, referring to a bogey-double bogey opening as he trailed for the only time in his marathon finale with Bregente. “I am just proud to have regrouped so quickly and made a ton of birdies after that.”

Suzuki would go on to win seven holes in a nine-hole stretch from No. 8 to close out the morning 18, sitting on a 7-up lead as Bregente never got closer than 5-down the rest of the way.

“He was so sharp I felt I didn’t have a chance,” the classy 24-year-old Bregente told the Inquirer in praise of Suzuki. “Shin played really well. Congrats to him.”

It was the first national title for the 18-year-old Suzuki, who is playing out of Manila Southwoods.

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So sharp was Suzuki that he made 10 birdies after that rough start, and when Bregente had come within five, drained an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, one he set up with a 230-yard 3-iron approach to within 10 feet.

“This is a big accomplishment for me,” he said as he will celebrate this one with family for a few days before he returns to national team duty together with Bregente and recently crowned Strokeplay champion Jet Hernandez.

The three will make up the Philippine squad in the Nomura Cup.

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Second straight

“I am just very happy to have recovered as quickly as I did,” Suzuki went on. “I just had this really solid mindset the entire week, and I guess that was crucial.”

Quintanilla, meanwhile, almost blew a 3-up lead with three holes left as the pint-sized Zaragosa made a searing charge by winning the 16th and 17th holes that put the title in the balance.

But Quintanilla, who won the Singapore Amateur Open just over three weeks ago, matched Zaragosa’s par to put an end to the match and bag a second straight national title.

Ralph Batican, the 14-year-old being trained and nurtured by the legendary Frankie Miñoza, secured the bronze medal after a 2&1 nipping of Emilio Hernandez. Lisa Sarines, the Strokeplay champion whose double-title bid was snuffed out by Zaragosa in the semifinals, also finished third after a 2&1 decision of Nicole Gan. INQ