Sarines twins clash early; Hernandez in as men’s No. 3

Mona Sarines will be standing in the way of twin sister Lisa’s double bid. —NGAP PHOTO

Grace Quintanilla closed out with a two-under-par 70 and topped ladies qualifying for the NGAP’s Match Play Championship, but the most interesting clash when the KO stages start on Thursday is the one between twin sisters Mona and Lisa Sarines.

The Sarines sisters battle it out after Mona fired a second-round 73 at tree-lined Luisita in Tarlac for 144 to end qualifying as the No. 3 seed.

That set her up against Lisa, who tabbed the sixth seed after a 73 for 147 and is seeking a golden double after winning the Strokeplay Championship at Pradera Verde last week.

“It will be a very tough match for both of us,” the 14-year-old Lisa told the Inquirer as she shares the same goal with Jet Hernandez, the champion last week who is seeking to sweep both men’s titles. “We will just try to enjoy the match.

“I’m sure she wants both of us to win, but that can’t happen,” Lisa added with a slight laugh, referring to their mom, Dang, who is present in all of the twins’ tournaments.

The 21-year-old Hernandez, meanwhile, advanced as the third-ranked player on the men’s side behind fellow national team members Rolando Bregente and Shinichi Suzuki, getting his bid in motion against teener Alexis Nailga.

“I think that was half the challenge—getting into the match play (phase),” Hernandez said. “I didn’t care heading into the week what seed I would be. I would’ve reacted the same way—if I was No. 1 or No. 16. This is already match play.

“I feel good about my game and I don’t think that today was a reflection (of where my game is at),” he added after submitting a two-over-par 74 for 142 to finish three shots behind Bregente. “It’s golf. These things happen. But yeah, I feel good about my game heading into the match play.”

Bregente, who shot a second-round 72, drew Ronel Taga-An, while Suzuki will battle Geoffrey Tan.

Quintanilla, the reigning Singapore Amateur champion, will battle No. 8 Brittany Tamayo, even as No. 2 qualifier Ally Gaccion tangles with Precious Zaragosa.