Ababa rallies with 69, bags Cangolf Am title

MANILA, Philippines - Jhonnel Ababa rode on a fiery frontside stint then hung tough with clutch pars at the back to capture the Canlubang Amateur Open with a closing 69 for a one-stroke victory over Calatagan teammate Mhark Fernando and ICTSI’s Antonio Asistio II at Cangolf’s south course yesterday.

Ababa birdied three of the first nine holes to draw level with Asistio at the turn then pounced on his rival’s bogey on No. 11 to grab the lead before holding off the charging Fernando with pars to clinch the victory.

He wound up with a 213, one shot ahead of Fernando, who also rallied with a flawless 68 but ran out of holes in his bid for a third victory in a banner season that saw him win the national amateur and a pro leg on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Asistio, who took a two-shot lead over Ababa, Wang Jeung Hun and Dante Becierra in the second round of the 54-hole championship hosted by Cangolf, settled for a 72-214 for joint second with Fernando.

The long-hitting Asistio actually went three-up with back-to-back birdies from No. 2 and looked headed for a successful title retention campaign. But he faltered with three bogeys against a birdie in the next eight holes, enabling the reed-thin Ababa to surge ahead.

Ababa, who regained his spot in the national team in the recent Nomura Cup squad, then steadied himself in the last seven holes, matching Asistio’s pars to frustrate the defending champion while foiling Fernando’s bid for a playoff.

A flight ahead, the reigning national champion, who started the round four shots behind Asistio, also racked up three birdies at the front, birdied the par-5 18th for that 68 and hoped for a playoff with a 214 aggregate. But Ababa proved up to the task, bucking the pressure with crucial pars to annex the crown.

Chihiro Ikeda, meanwhile, scored an expected romp in the ladies division, carding a second straight 70 for a 140 and a seven-shot romp over ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa, who had a 147 after a 75.

Baby Lacson of Canlubang took the net championship with a 65-140 while Nemie Castor, also of Cangolf, finished second with a 143 after a 74, and Anya Tanpinco wound up third with a 73 for a 145.

Dante Becierra placed fourth at 215 after a 71 while Zunieboy Gialon also fought back with a 69 for fifth at 216.

Wang, whose impressive 67 in the second round earned him a spot in the championship flight, cracked under pressure. He limped home with a 75 for a 219 for sixth followed by Alvin Engino (71-222), Rufino Bayron (78-227) and Jessie Balasabas (76-227).