Clavecilla checks skid, cops 3rd RP Srs crown

Iggy Clavecilla squandered a seven-shot lead as he staggered in the early going but recovered in time to beat Dave Hernandez by two shots on a closing 81 for a record third straight Philippine Seniors Amateur Golf Championship at Riviera’s Langer course yesterday.

Clavecilla, who built a whopping seven-stroke lead after two rounds on a 69 and 74, lost his touch and focus and nearly lost his lead with five bogeys and a double-bogey in the first 10 holes, enabling Hernandez to draw level.

But Hernandez failed to cash in on Clavecilla’s near-foldup as he three-putted No. 12 and failed to rescue a par from the bunker on the 17th, enabling the Luisita mainstay to regain the lead en route to the victory in the premier seniors tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Clavecilla wound up with a 224 for a two-stroke triumph over Hernandez, who settled for a second straight 76 and a 226.

Tommy Manotoc, the reigning Asia-Pacific seniors champion, and former national titlist Francis Gaston shot 83 and 78, respectively, and finished tied for third with 235 while Rolly Viray, runner-up in 2006, placed fifth with a 236 after a 79.

Tony Olives carded a 76 for sixth at 237 while Caloy Coscoluella Jr. (81) and Bing Bunye (83) wound up seventh and eighth with 239 and 243, respectively.

A double-bogey opening somewhat hinted at the coming of a bleak day for Clavecilla, who bogeyed six of the next eight holes and finished the frontside with a 43.

In other results, Bryan Cockrell took the gross title in Category II (60-64) with rounds of 79-81 for a 160 and a six-shot victory over Sengyo Kato (85-81) while Ray Escuadro captured the net crown with a 146, beating Arsenio Paredes’ 150.

Danny Pizarro ran away with the Category III (65-69) with a 162 (84-78) with Lou Atienza finishing second with 210 (110-100). Jun Escaño took the net title with a 154.

Richard Heidemann copped the Super Senior I (70-74) plum with a 196 (104-92), beating Ogie Manalo (110-99-209) while Jun Galindez cruised to the Super Senior II (75 and above) victory with a 194 (100-94) as former President Fidel V. Ramos settled for runner-up honors with a 217 (116-101). Carlos Iñigo won the net crown with a 155, besting Enrique Beech (173).

Hernandez pounced on Clavecilla’s shaky start by coming up with a slew of pars, but his double-bogey on the par-3 8th prevented him from grabbing the lead at the turn with a 37.

He did manage to tie Clavecilla on the 10th, which the latter bogeyed but just couldn’t sustain his charge as he fumbled with bogeys on the two par-3s at the back. — end it//thanks