Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus eased past their lower seeded rivals to stay on collision course in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Golf Championships at the Orchard’s Players course in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.
The top seeded Chan fashioned out a pair of 5&4 romps, beating Korean Lee Sang Min in the first round of the knockout phase in the morning before booting out Masaichi Otake in scorching heat in afternoon play to lead the men’s quarters cast in the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.
Corpus, who placed second to Chan in the 36-hole stroke play elims, survived Michael Pizarro, 1-up, then dominated Gabby Macalaguim, 5&4, to clinch the other quarters berth in the lower half of the draw in the week-long event serving as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour.
Macalaguim downed Alex Trinos, 3&2, in morning play but struggled against Corpus while Otake also failed to measure up to Chan’s superb game after scoring an imposing 5&3 victory over Martin Mendoza.
The rest of the second round matches are still being played at presstime with Kristoffer Arevalo clashing with Luigi Guerrero; Josh Jorge colliding with Santino Laurel; Aniceto Mandanas squaring off with Riggs Illescas; Francis Lanuza facing off with Don Padilla; Joaquin Gomez tangling with Korean Jung Jae Hyun and defending champion Peter Tyler Po mixing it up with David Guangko.
The No. 27 Gomez provided the lone reversal in the morning duel, booting out sixth seed Sean Ramos, 2-up, for a clash with Jung, who defeated Aldo Barro, 3&1, in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.
Low medalist Harmie Constantino also sustained her charge and romped past Jacqueline Young, 8&7, to tow the quarterfinalists in the women’s side, including recent MVPSF Visayas Regional match play winner Angela Mangana, who repulsed Kristine Fleetwood on the 20th hole.