Rookie pro turns Open upside down

SILANG, Cavite – A strange week at the DHL 88th Philippine Open ended with one final surprise yesterday and it proved to be the biggest of ‘em all when an American rookie pro ruled over the revered men of the Asian Tour.

Despite a two-stroke penalty on the par-4 No. 15, Edward Michaels, only on his second tournament on the newly-formed circuit who placed 10th in the Asian Q-School and opened his campaign with a missed-cut stint in Thailand Open last month, closed out with a second straight two-under par 69 and was the only player to finish under par – 282 – on the difficult Riviera’s Langer layout.

"I’m speechless. I’m very much surprised to win here," said the 27-year-old bet from Atlanta, Georgia, who beat not the slew of the best players who survived the cut in this $150,000 event, including third round joint leader Adam Groom, but an amateur – Juvic Pagunsan – by three strokes to claim the top $24,225 purse.

Pagunsan, who shared the lead with Groom at the start of the round, reeled back with back-to-back opening bogeys but played the challenger’s role in the absence of one as Groom and the rest of the pros dropped back one after the other in another punishing day here at Langer.

Though he failed to become the first amateur to win the Open crown since Hsu Sheng San won in 1967, Pagunsan proved he’s more than ready for the big time when he wound up second with a one-over 285 after a 74.

"Juvic’s a great player and I’m sure when he turns pro, he would gain lots of victories," said Michaels, who started the round two shots off the pace but wrested the lead as early as No. 3 with two birdies and then sat on a big five-stroke cushion after another pair of birdies from No. 5.

"Maganda naman ang driving pero sumama ang putting at masama ang umpisa," said Pagunsan, whose missed-green bogeys on the first two holes somehow hinted at the coming of a bleak and frustrating day.

Groom and the rest of the pursuers didn’t only have a poor start but also struggled and groped for form all-day yesterday and submitted rounds that belied their credentials heading into this event presented by San Miguel Corp. and sponsored by DHL Express and Mitsubishi Motors.

The lean Aussie pro, who led in the first round, fell back in the second but moved up again with Pagunsan in the penultimate day, skied to a 77, shooting himself in the foot with three bogeys and a double-bogey right in the first nine holes.

He finished with 288, enabling Jonathan Cheetham of England to tie him for third with a 73 although the two pros halved the second and third place prizes since Pagunsan was not entitled to prize money as an amateur. Groom and Cheetham each won $12,997.

Tony Lascuna emerged the best local pro at joint 11th with dethroned champion Rick Gibson of Canada (72), carding a 76 for a 292 ($2,876), three behind joint fifth placers Chen Yuan-chi of Taiwan (71) and Richard Moir of Australia (74) with 289s.

Korean Mo Joon Kyung shot the day’s other 69 to finish solo seventh with 290 worth $5,250, while Amandeep Johl of India (75), Adam Fraser of Australia (73) and Scott Taylor of USA (71) shared eighth places with 291s. Each got $3,865.

Former President Fidel Ramos and DHL’s Charles Brewer graced the awarding ceremony.

But the day belonged to one man.

Actually, to a couple as Michaels drew strength and inspiration from his wife Missy, whom he described as his "lucky charm" who caddied for him throughout the tournament on this difficult up-and-down course made more daunting by the winds.

In fact, it was Missy who perked up and kept Michaels going when he was about to crack up, particularly when – up by four with four holes to go — he was assessed a two-stroke penalty after he mistakenly brushed aside a leaf while trying to blast out of a fairway bunker.

"You should stay focused. There are only three holes to play. Keep focused and let them catch you," said Missy.

And nobody did.