Que, Miñoza shine amid TCC match play upsets, thrillers
STA. ROSA, Laguna—Angelo Que and Martina Miñoza played different matches under the same unforgiving sun. But both walked off The Country Club (TCC) course on Wednesday with a common mission: finish what they’ve started.
Que, still nursing the tail-end of a stomach ailment, shook off a sluggish start to dispatch Ryan Monsalve, 2&1, and advance to the quarterfinals of the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational. Miñoza, meanwhile, pulled off the day’s biggest upset in the women’s division by eliminating defending champion Florence Bisera, 2&1, in a commanding performance.
“Feeling much better but not 100 percent yet,” said Que, who had skipped last week’s PGT finale due to illness. “Getting better every day.”
He needed every ounce of that recovery against Monsalve. The top seed looked tentative early but leaned on veteran savvy to steady the ship and close the match with well-timed putts. Now, Que braces for a blockbuster quarterfinal against Clyde Mondilla—a matchup of multititled veterans that could easily pass for a final.
Early control
“It’s match play, so anybody has a chance,” said Que. “You’ve got to stay sharp. One bad hole and it can all flip.”
Miñoza’s match never really tilted. The Del Monte standout seized control early and built a four-hole lead over Bisera, who mounted a late rally but couldn’t shake Miñoza’s steely par-saving finish.
“I just focused on my game and stayed calm,” Miñoza said, after clinching her first semifinals appearance at TCC. She now faces Harmie Constantino, who subdued No. 3 seed Chanelle Avaricio, 3&2, with her trademark consistency.
On the other side of the women’s draw, Daniella Uy battled past Marvi Monsalve, 1-up, and will face Mafy Singson, who rode clutch birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 to down Tiffany Lee, 3&1.
Back in the men’s bracket, Thursday’s quarterfinal pairings feature: Que vs Mondilla, Guido van der Valk vs Michael Bibat, Reymon Jaraula vs Randy Garalde and Tony Lascuña vs Keanu Jahns. All eight are eyeing spots in the semifinals, scheduled for later the same day.
Van der Valk, a two-time TCC champion, outlasted Atsushi Ueda in a tense 2-up finish, while Jahns powered past Jhonnel Ababa, 4&3. Lascuña used his short-game mastery to beat Russell Bautista, 3&2.
