Gerard Cantada scored big when it mattered and took home a total of P225,000 worth in prizes to rule the Y101 Skins for Heart event yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.
Cantada’s biggest prize however came on the extra hole where he earned a total of P200,000 or eight skins when the prizes for the 11th to the 18th holes were carried to the sudden death match after nobody won a skin for that stretch.
It was the second time he actually won the par-4 hole number 1 as he also took the first skin of the event there beating the trio of Gerald Rosales, Marlon Dizon and Roger Retuerto with a par to start off the day.
Nobody won a skin for the next three holes and with P100,000 worth of prizes at stake on the par-4 5th, Rosales knocked in a birdie from four feet while Cantada missed a shorter attempt giving the former a windfall.
Rosales took his momentum to the par-3 6th which he also birdied for another skin and a total of P125,000 in prizes.
On the 7th, Dizon won his only skin as his drive, which landed on the left rough of the dog-leg left hole gave him a good view of the green.
His second shot landed just around the huge green and he left himself with a little over a foot for a birdie and the skin.
With nobody taking the 8th, P50,000 was at stake on the par-5 9th where Rosales once again pulled a rabbit out of his hat as Cantada missed another short birdie try to win two skins and earn a total of P175,000 in prizes at the bend.
Retuerto, who was once the coach of the younger players, took the 10th hole for his lone skin of the event and P25,000 and nobody was able to make a move from there.
There were several chances for the player to earn more skins, but the putts broke on the last instance and there were some spectacular moves that resulted to ties.
On the 18th, Dizon hit the green of the downhill par-5 hole on his second shot leaving himself about 20 feet for an eagle, which came short forcing the sudden-death playoff.
When the tee shots were made on the first hole, Retuerto immediately found himself in trouble on the rough at the left side of the hole forcing him to play out before landing a great pitch on the green.
Dizon’s tee shot was about 60 yards from the pin and his pitch left him a long attempt for birdie.
Cantada was third to hit his second shot and after switching to a six-iron instead of pitching into the hole, he left himself about two feet for a birdie attempt.
Rosales pitched to about five feet and he and Dizon both missed their birdie putts while Retuerto showed some brilliance with his par from about 23 feet.
Cantada sank a pressure-less birdie and pumped his fist for the big win.
The event was organized by Y101 FM for the benefit of the victims of typhoon Frank. Joseph Stevens, Vice President of the station, said that the money that was raised would be used to buy rice that they plan to personally hand over to the typhoon victims.
Sponsors of the event were ICTSI, Armscor, Philippine Sports Commission, PCSO, Pagcor, LBC, First Gentleman Foundation, Philips, San Sebastian Sardines, Enervon E, Nissan Cebu, Bella Luce Publication, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and the Sportswriters Association of Cebu.