Jaraula bags Samsung Amateur title

CAGAYAN de Oro – Boboy Jaraula rallied from four shots down, then edged Tristan Tabanas on the fourth playoff hole yesterday to capture the championship division crown in the Samsung Amateur Golf Tour fourth leg at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club course here.

The playoff ended on the dogleg par-4 No. 4 where Jaraula hit a perfect drive and Tabanas hooked his shot into a stymied lie, needing to play out short of a water hazard.

Tabanas reached the green in four, yielding the crown to Jaraula, who chipped to within a putter length for par.

Jaraula scored a 74 in the final round while Tabanas struggled with a 78 to finish tied for first after regulation play at 297. Tabanas actually led by one going to the last hole but holed out with a bogey.

Yoyong Velez, Clyde Mondilla and Benjamin Leparto took the other titles disputed in the tourney sponsored by Mizuno, Autohub, Callaway/Electrobus Consolidated, Inc., Wow Magic Sing, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Gargol and Wave 89.1. PacSports Philippines (Club Car) and Autohub (Sinski motorcycle) were hole-in-one sponsors while Hotel Koresco was the official hotel.

Velez claimed the special championship division plum where he beat Tommy Manotoc by five after a 73-147. Mondila (76-151) finished four strokes ahead of Art Ong in Class A and Leparto (80-166) took the Class B trophy by three strokes.

The fifth and final leg of the series will be played Oct. 7-10 at Eagle Ridge.

On Friday, Eva Miñoza, Celine Menes and Jo Mi Sook snared the titles in the 36-hole ladies events while Monico Gotil and Kevin Lee took the men’s Class C and Class D.