Zaragosa, Constantino fancied as NGAP regional unwraps

MANILA, Philippines – The Northern Luzon Regional Golf Championship fires off today with Rupert Zaragosa and Harmie Constantino setting out as the players to beat in the Elite Am Division at the Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga.

Zaragosa, the national champion and a former junior titlist, hopes to get going in his 8:50 a.m. flight but expects a fierce challenge from Aniceto Mandanas, Aidric Chan and Lester Lagman on a relatively flat and short but tricky, bunker-laden layout.

Jolo Magcalayo, meanwhile, drew Pierre Ticzon, and Koreans Oh Sang Jin and Ha Tae-won in the 8:40 a.m. group while Josh Abad, Gab Manotoc, Christer Sibug and GJ Katigbak tee off at 9 a.m. in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and MPIC.

Other titles to be disputed in the event hosted by Beverly Place are the men’s division, including Group I for players with handicap of 5-12, and Group II for those with handicap 13-and-above.

The men’s Group I cast is headed by Edgardo Pagulayan, Ronald Busto, Ricardo Loyola, Jose Antonio Narciso, Efren Leonardo, Florante Bambao, Leandro Bagtas, Dindo Santos, August Cruz, Alan Alegre, Lisandro Opulencia, Sean Ramos, Francis Telan and Francis Lanuza.

Constantino Joson, Manny Luzon, Jose Pesayco and Van Cano, on the other hand, head the men’s Group II field that includes Donaciano De Jesus, Medel Puno, Amon Ladeza and Neildreich Ruetas.

Cielo Fregil, Kwon Tae-yon and Sam Dizon dispute the ladies handicap open title of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.