Casas survives Salvador in six-hole playoff

SAN Miguel, Bukidnon — Felix "Cassius" Casas birdied the 18th hole six times yesterday, the last from a few inches away on the sixth hole of a sudden-death playoff, to capture the Del Monte leg of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit presented by San Miguel Beer here.

Runner-up the past two weeks, Casas used up all the magical shots and putts in his bag to avoid another heartbreak as the Southwoods pro edged a hardluck Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego in the longest playoff ever in the local tour.

Like cat with so many lives, Felix almost needed more than nine to keep himself in the hunt.

His first birdie on the par-5 18th from two feet in regulation play got him onto the playoff with Salvador and Sinfuego. The three ended up with similar 274 totals after Sinfuego rallied with a 67 and Salvador shot a 70 against the 72 of Casas.

Casas parried the axe of doom right on the first extension hole when a birdied putt that was no shorter than 50 feet traversed almost the entire length of the green and trickled into hole, sending the huge gallery into a frenzy.

That spectacular putt got him by the skin of his teeth on the next hole with Sinfuego and Salvador who birdied from short range.

Canlubang leg champ Sinfuego booted himself out of the playoff after he just made par on the second extra hole which his two rivals birdied from tap-in distance.

After both exchanged birdies on their next two trips back to the 18th, Sinfuego seemed all set to end it all on as he pitched to within just six feet for his birdie but missed.

On the sixth extra hole, Casas sent his second shot to the greenside bunker while Salvador left himself with a 20-yard third shot. But what was supposed to be a simple pitch turned into a disappointing lob that found the bunker for Salvador.

Casas pounced on that big opening to blast to within inches away for a sure birdie which became impossible to match for Salvador who just could get himself out of the bunker.

"With all the breaks that went my way when I needed them, I felt I was bound to win it," said Casas, who pocketed the top prize of P100,000 out of the P600,000 total pot.

The winners received their prizes from Ogie Manalo, president of the organizing Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc., and Del Monte officials Jimmy Ong, Warfrido Boy Balandra, Mike Comique and lawyer Ramon Velez.

The bulk of the pros left the Cagayan port last night, availing of the free luxury service provided to them by official carrier WG&A Super Ferry in time for the 10th leg starting Tuesday at the Tagaytay Midlands.

As Casas joined Mars Pucay and Benjie Magada in the growing roster of two-leg winners, Salvador saw his bid to end an eight-year search for his first title come to a sorry end. "Sayang talaga pero marami pa namang pagkakataon," said Salvador, who set the course record of 62, the lowest score in the local tour in years, in the second round.