Casas rules Super Tour with final round 66

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Cassius Casas, with father Necias in the small gallery in the last two days, snuffed the challenge of two determined pursuers with an eagle on No. 17 for a final round 6-under-par 66 at Pueblo de Oro yesterday to rule the Strong Republic Nautical Highway Super Golf Tour.

The 37-year-old Southwoods bet turned in a final round performance worth his father’s time, finishing with a 418 total after six grueling rounds, 12-under over the Villamor, Club Malarayat, Fairways and Blue Water, Marapara, Del Monte and Pueblo layouts.

The elder Casas took a bus ride all the way from Davao just to see his son play and reunite after more than a year, beaming with pride when he met Cassius on the 18th green.

"Siyempre, proud na proud ako," Necias said. "Bihira kong makita ang anak ko kaya mas masarap ang reunion namin ngayon dahil panalo pa siya."

"Pumunta ako nang hindi niya alam. Hindi ako nagpasabi sa kahit kaninong kaibigan niya na darating ako. Gusto ko lang talagang surpresahin siya."

Antonio Lascuna and Benjie Magada gave chase all day but never got nearer than three.

Lascuna finished with a 68, his tap-in birdie on the 18th spelling the difference for second place after Magada’s 20-footer for birdie lipped out. Lascuna finished with a 422 total and went home with P250,000.

Magada, who went without a bogey in the final round, also shot a 68 and settled for P180,000 with Richard Sinfuego assembling a 68 for 428 to finish alone in fourth worth P150,000.

"Ang sarap nga ng panalo na ito, kasi, first time sa mahigit isang taon, tapos, nandito pa tatay ko," said Cassius. "Napakalaki ng influence niya sa akin, kahit noong time na masama ang nilalaro ko, palagi lang siyang naka-suporta sa akin."

Cassius won for the first time since the 2003 The Country Club Invitational, a victory that marked the start of a spiraling downward ride that saw him miss cuts in the country and overseas.

He went into a serious training regimen around three months ago, when he missed the cut in the 2004 Country Club Invitational by 16 strokes.

The effort has obviously been worth it, for not only has he earned back the respect, he is again one feared man in the local circuit.

"Gagawin ko pa rin itong ginagawa kong pag-eensayo. Naramdaman ko na may advantage ka pala sa iba na hindi pareho ang kundisyon ng katawan na katulad sayo."

Casas opened up with four birdies in his first nine yesterday, stretching a two-shot overnight lead to four over Lascuna and five on Magada.

But a bogey on No. 13, coupled with a Lascuna birdie on 14 and a Magada birdie on 15 cut the lead to three heading into the final three holes.

Cassius then crushed his drive on the par-5 17th and was left with just 203 yards for his second shot. He hit a magnificent 6-iron to within 10 feet, calmly making the eagle to seal the deal.

The battle for second then got interesting on the 18th, when a pitching wedge put Lascuna’s second shot to within three feet and Magada slightly pulling his approach to leave himself a 20-footer to stay tied for second.