Que snatches crown from brink

STA. ROSA, Laguna – Angelo Que pounced on Elmer Salvador’s meltdown under the scorching heat then checked on his own fold-up in the closing holes to salvage a one-under par 69 for a thrilling one-shot P1.3 million victory in the Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup yesterday.

Que overcame an overnight four-stroke deficit as Salvador fumbled with back-to-back bogeys from No. 10, blew a two-shot lead with three holes to go but made a crucial two-putt par on the 72nd hole to shoot a 34-35 card. He then watched Salvador crumble with a flubbed six-foot par putt on the final hole for a 74 to snatch the title on a four-day aggregate of three-under 277.

"At least, we’re even now," said Que, referring to his setback to Salvador in a tournament at the Royal Northwoods last year.

Que’s victory, however, was worth four times over and it came like a whiff of fresh air for the 29-year-old long hitting shotmaker, who went on a winless campaign after scoring a breakthrough win on the Asian Tour in the Vietnam Masters where he won $32,000.

But to clinch to win, Que had to buck a four-putt double-bogey mishap on No. 16 that enabled Salvador to draw level, knocking down a solid approach shot to within 20 feet on the tough par-4 18th before making a routine par.

Salvador, four-up at the start of the day but whose disastrous triple-bogey 8 on No. 2 paved the way for another down-to-the-wire duel in this P4.4 million event, failed to reach the green in regulation on the 18th, flubbed an uphill six-foot par putt and missed forcing a playoff the way Frankie Miñoza did in losing to Juvic Pagunsan last year. He settled for second with 278 worth P671,000.

Gerald Rosales, the first round leader who started the round five shots behind, moved to within three after nine holes but failed to sustain his fightback and finished with a 71 for third with 280. He took home P429,000.

Robert Pactolerin came through with a delicate downhill birdie putt from 9 feet on the 18th to salvage a 71 and gain a share of fourth place with 2004 champion Jerome Delariarte at 282. Delariarte also made a 71 and each received P272,250.

Artemio Murakami never recovered from a muffed birdie putt from six feet on No. 2 that would’ve brought him to within two off Salvador and spent the rest of the day scrambling for pars and holing out with bogeys for a 74. He wound up sixth with a 283 worth P183,700.

Miñoza, the reigning RP Open champion who is bracing for the rich Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, Thailand, next week, also three-putted No. 18 and wound up seventh with a 285 after a 71 in a tie with Dottie Ardina, who emerged the top amateur with a closing 72. Miñoza took home P147,400 while Ardina, spearhead of the RP team in next month’s Queen Sirikit Cup, received a medal from golf patron and ICTSI chair and president Ricky Razon during the awards rites.