Fernando turns back rivals with closing 70

MANILA, Philippines - After stamping his class in the amateurs, Mhark Fernando made his mark in the pro ranks, winning the Philippine Golf Tour-ICTSI Riviera Championship with a one-under par 70 for a three-shot victory over Demetrio Sanchez, Richard Sinfuego and Ferdie Aunzo at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite yesterday.

Fernando, 28, rammed in three straight birdies from close range from No. 3 to wrest the lead with a 33 then watched his pro rivals sputter with bogeys in another rainy day to pull away and cruise to the championship in the P1 million event sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“I was just lucky my iron game and putting clicked,” said the reticent Fernando, who bested the best in the ranks in the national amateurs at Eastridge last June.

The top Calatagan bet, who actually led in the first round with a 68 but dropped to joint second with a 74 late Thursday, banged in three straight birdies inside three feet from No. 3 to post a four-stroke lead over Sinfuego at the turn.

The best performer for Team RP which placed third in the recent Putra Cup even holed out with a double-bogey six on the par-4 18th and still won by three with a 54-hole aggregate of 212.

Sinfuego, tied with Fernando, Sanchez and Rey Pagunsan in second one shot behind surprise second round leader Orlan Sumcad at the start of the final round, made a 37 at the turn. Sanchez struggled with a 38 while Pagunsan skied to a 39.

Sinfuego moved within two with an eagle on the par-5 10th but the veteran campaigner failed to sustain his charge with pars in the next seven holes before holing out with a bogey.

Aunzo, who started the final day three strokes behind Sumcad, tried to chase Fernando with a 35 but missed a couple of birdie chances at the back.