Rosal blooms into a major star, wins title

CANLUBANG — He made his rivals look so disgusting.

Abe Rosal turned the DHL-NGAP Amateur Open Championship into his own personal show, winning the DHL-NGAP Amateur Open Championship with a record 11-stroke victory over the cream of the crop behind a closing five-under par 67 yesterday at the north course of the Canlubang golf complex.

The winning margin bested Gerald Rosales’ 9-stroke victory over Solomon Gines in the 1999 edition of this event, not to mention the eight-stroke romp Marlon Dizon fashioned out in beating Jerome Delariarte last year, in a victory that was more than a triumph of the spirit for a 40-year-old player who considers himself just a weekend golfer.

"Definitely this is the best golf I’ve ever played in my career," said Rosal as if his Saturday-only golf could be considered a career.

Counting his earlier rounds of 70-67-75, Rosal wound up with a 279, 11 strokes better than national teammates Juvic Pagunsan, firing a 69, and Jay Baron, carding a 74, who both had 290s.

"Not bad for a weekend golfer," Rosal added.

Worse were the young Turks fancied to contend for this year’s crown as the members of the national team hardly made a move, or even tried to, with Jay Bayron, who started the round at second four shots back, virtually losing whatever motivation he had when Rosal matched the challenger’s tap-in-birdie on the par-5 No. 2 with a curling 15-footer he set up from the bunker.

Rosal’s victory in this DHL and WWW Express-sponsored-event and staged by the National Golf Association of the Phils. actually capped a successful, if inspiring week of golf for the club bet since he also won the low gross honors in last weekend’s Yulo Memorial Cup.

Delariarte finished solo fourth with a 295 after a 76 while Dumandan also had a 76-for 279.

Meanwhile, Heidi Chua proved she’s the best golfer in the ranks as she topped the Ladies Division two weeks after retaining her Philippine Ladies Open title on a final round 74 and a 229 for a five-stroke victory over last year’s champion Carmelette Villaroman, who had a 76 and a 234.

"That was the crucial point. Kung nakunan nya (Bayron) ako doon, malamang nagkaroon ng pressure sa akin," said Rosal, who put the pressure back on Bayron on a two-shot (birdie-bogey) swing on No. 3 to go six-up.

The two other players in the championship flight — Delariarte and Marvin Dumandan — were reduced to mere gallery and, together with Bayron, they watched Rosal frolick with the winds blowing from all over as the eventual champion turned in a 33-34 card to validate his claim to the crown.

Sure, playing on a home course gives one an advantage, but Rosal showed it was more than the familiarity with the territory, but also of determination and mental toughness rarely seen in players who consider the sport just a pastime.

"I also play golf once-a-week, so there’s something wrong with my golf," Charles Brewer, the DHL international country manager, said in jest.