Mangulabnan ousts Mondilla

Manila, Philippines - Rodel Mangulabnan shocked top seed and former national champion Clyde Mondilla, hacking out a 3&2 victory to crash into the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Philippine Amateur Closed Championship at Wack Wack’s East course yesterday.

Ruperto Zaragosa III also pulled off a surprise victory over veteran internationalist Jobim Carlos via the same score to remain on track of a sweep bid after ruling the junior edition of the event at Alabang two weeks ago.

The 48-year-old Mangulabnan, outdriven by the younger, stronger Mondilla, used a steady game to ease out the Bukidnon native, hitting all 14 fairways to arrange a quarter showdown with Miggy Yee.

Yee, another long-hitting youngster from Manila Southwoods mainstay, also upset the eighth-seeded Zannie Boy Gialon, 1-up, in the event presented by Pancake House and SOC Land, backed by Great Depot, Callaway and Odyssey Golf and organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

The 13-year-old second seeded Zaragoza, on the other hand, faces club member Tootsie de Jesus, the 26th seed who ripped Juan Ibazeta, 4&2.

In women’s play, the fancied ICTSI-backed bets, led by Dottie Ardina, Jayvee Agojo and Chihiro Ikeda, joined top-ranked Andie Unson in the quarterfinals after posting easy victories.

Ardina whipped Chanelle Avaricio, 5&4, Agojo routed Samantha Martirez, 3&2, and Ikeda disposed of Bianca Pagdanganan, 6&5.

Agojo and Ikeda duel for a semifinal seat, while Unson, the No. 1 seed who drew a first round bye, clashes with Lovelyn Guioguio, a 2-up winner over Daniella Uy.

Ardina clashes with Sheryl Villacencio, a 3&1 winner over Katya dela Cruz, while Sarah Ababa and Sunshine Baraquiel square off in the fourth quarterfinal pairing. Ababa posted a 4&3 win over Rainstar Roque, while Baraquiel defeated Marvi Monsalve, 3&2.

No. 4 Justin Quiban and Andres Saldana also fell by the wayside with the former bowing to John Kier Abdon, 2&1, and the latter losing to Cebuano hotshot Gio Gandiongco, 6&5.