Aunzo, Tanpinco stage duel for national am title

BACOLOD – Ferdie Aunzo and JR Tanpinco came away with semifinal victories in contrasting fashions yesterday to seal a title showdown for the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship in a duel of talented players with yet varying goals.

Aunzo, perhaps the best player in the ranks today, took a step closer to claiming his third victory in the last four weeks, subduing former national team member Erwin Vinluan, 4 and 3, in the semis, hours after trouncing Korean upstart Jae Yang, 3 and 2, in the morning quarterfinals at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

JR Tanpinco dropped a bending 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to nip Rufino Bayron, 1-up, in a big follow-up to his 3 and 2 romp over Bayani Garcia earlier, keeping the homegrown bets’ bid for a rare sibling sweep of the championship after sister Anya Tanpinco overwhelmed Carmelette Villaroman, 3 and 2, to set up a clash with Irina Gabasa of Cebu for the ladies plum.

The 13-year-old Gabasa won over Apple Fudolin in the other semis duel to earn a rare crack at the 36-hole championship but against the most feared player in the fold – the defending champion.

JR Tanpinco, who just came back after finishing a golf management course in San Diego, USA to play on his home turf, fought back from two holes down after 13 as Bayron bogeyed the next two. He then came through with that spectacular putt to foil an all-ICTSI finale and frustrate the DHL Open winner, who had looked forward to an extended duel after missing his own birdie bid from almost the same spot.

“I just got lucky,” said the 26-year-old Tanpinco, who will need much of that when he tangles with Aunzo in the marathon 36-hole finale starting at 7 a.m. today. Tanpinco whipped Bayani Garcia, 3 and 2, in the morning quarterfinals of the tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Yamaha Golf Car and Tanduay Distillers, Inc.

“I have gotten used to playing 36 holes. So I feel good,” said the 28-year-old Aunzo, playing on his fifth straight week after topping the Karambunai Open and the Sabah Amateur and bundling out two rivals in Friday’s start of the match play event.

With JR Tanpinco making his first final appearance in six tries, a brother-sister sweep of the country’s premier amateur championship loomed although JR will need more than his local knowledge of the course to stop Aunzo.

For the ICTSI team standout is due for another victory, the way he’s been dominating his rivals, finishing with a four-under card in booting out Yang. He was one down after No. 8 against Vinluan but birdied No. 9 to draw level before watching his rival, member of the 2005 Nomura Cup team, flounder with three-putt bogeys at the back.

In fact, the Davao native has already been contemplating on trying his luck in the Asian Qualifying School in Malaysia in December for a spot in the Asian Tour next year.

“There are plans but let’s see,” said Aunzo, who will lead the 18 or so aspirants in next week’s qualifying at Valley Golf Club for the six-man national pool from where the four members competing in the Putra Cup and the World Amateurs will be selected.