Course familiarity key as North prepares to defend ‘Elite’ title

Suzuki Shinichi —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Team North sets out to defend its Junior PGT Elite Finals title against Team South in a week, and newly crowned men’s National Match Play champion Shinichi Suzuki and Lisa Sarines will lead a squad that will try to do the trick on enemy territory.

Suzuki is the most seasoned player from either side, and the 18-year-old is raring to meet the challenge head-on—home course disadvantage notwithstanding.

“I really like our chances,” Suzuki told the Inquirer during a break in practice at Manila Southwoods, just three days removed from winning his first national title. “It will be a very exciting match this year, and our players are definitely just as strong as the other team.”

Team South was routed last year, 26.5-21.5, as the Northerners made the most out of their familiarity with The Country Club in Laguna. This time, Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro will be the venue, and Sarines is one of those who hasn’t seen the layout yet.

“Course familiarity will be a big factor, because I heard it is kind of a tough course if you don’t know it [well],” Sarines said in a separate interview. “I haven’t seen it yet, so I am excited to see how it looks and [figure out] how I am going to play it.”

Suzuki and Sarines are in the 15-18 boys’ and girls’ teams of the North, with both coming off successful national title quests as Lisa ruled the Strokeplay Championship two weeks ago with a 15-shot win over Tashanah Balangauan at Pradera Verde’s Pinatubo course.

“The playing field will be pretty even,” the 14-year-old Sarines answered when pressed which team she feels is more talented. “But they (Southerners) do have the upper hand when it comes to course knowledge.”

Ralph Batican, who placed third behind Suzuki and Rolando Bregente at Luisita last week, headlines the South’s 15-18 boys’ squad, while Precious Zaragosa, who was second to Grace Quintanilla in the ladies Match Play, leads the South’s girls team.

“The South will definitely have an advantage because of course familiarity,” Suzuki went on. “They’re familiar with the environment and the course. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to whoever handles the pressure and plays their best game.”

Tournament format calls for Four-ball play on the first day on Aug. 18, before the Foursomes the following day and the deciding Singles on Aug. 20.

Squads in the boys’ and girls’ 7-10 and 11-14 will also play all three rounds, and the South is looking to better a bum start last year that had them trailing by five points entering the Singles. INQ