Bregente recalibrates swing, seeks fifth national title

Rolando Bregente: Man to beat. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rolando Bregente has spent the past few days fixing a slight draw in his iron shots as he shoots to win a fifth national amateur title when he tees off as one of the players to beat in the NGAP’s Stroke Play Championship that gets going on Wednesday at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.

The 24-year-old ace, who is coming off what he says is a disappointing tied for fourth finish in the Singapore Amateur Open two weeks ago because of “an over-draw” in his irons, will be coming into the 72-hole championship confident that he has fixed what was there that needed fixing.

“That’s the reason why I struggled in the second round in Singapore,” Bregente, who opened up with a 64 to lead by two before sliding down with a 70 the following day at the Bukit course, told the Inquirer over the phone after practice on Tuesday at the Eagle Ridge.

“I really draw the ball, it just went a bit too far,” added Bregente, the spearhead of the dominant Eastridge Primehomes squad that has ruled the PAL Interclub for the last two years now. “I think I have addressed the problem and I will be ready.”

Jet Hernandez was the one that finished tied with Bregente in Singapore and is also entered as one of the favorites here, even as sons of three former champions will try to duplicate what their fathers did.

Thirdy Fernando, John Bernis and Zach Villaroman, whose dads Mhark, Jun and Carito won national titles at least once in their careers, will be playing for a piece of history, even as 14-year-old Ralph Batican—a prodigy of the legendary Frankie Miñoza—is a player groomed by a legitimate great.

“I am very excited, this being my first national tournament,” the 16-year-old Fernando, who is being eyed by multiple schools for the UAAP golf competition, said after sampling the course for the first time—and thinking that he has the game to conquer the Pinatubo layout.

“I think the length of it is OK,” Fernando continued in Filipino, even if the tournament will use the black tees for the men. “The greens, though, are already playing difficult—they are slopey and quite quick already.”

The 21-year-old Bernis, on the other hand, is shooting for the biggest title of his young career, one that could possibly open the way for him to make the national team.

And he has some national tournament experience—a bitter one, though—after losing to businessman Gary Sales, whose son Harry is also entered—in the 2024 match play finals.

“I gained a lot of experience in that tournament,” Bernis said. “It will definitely come in handy for me here.” INQ

###—###

#Kicker

STROKEPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

#Byline2

@musongINQ