Mhark settles for second

MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando fell short of his title bid in the Hong Kong Open Amateur Golf Championship, losing the crown to Daniel Nisbet of Australia despite a closing 68 at the Discovery Bay Golf Club in Hong Kong yesterday.

Fernando, tied with Nisbet at the start of the round, failed to match the Aussie bet’s sizzling final day charge as Nisbet came away with a six-under 66 to win by two.

Nisbet finished with a 72-hole total of eight-under 280 while Fernando, the reigning national champion, settled for runner-up honors with a 282.

Jhonnel Ababa, who shot the day’s best score of 65 Thursday to move within one stroke off the joint third round leaders, also sputtered with a 72 to finish third.

Fernando and Ababa, who will lead the RP team’s bid in next month’s SEA Games in Laos with Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron, finished ahead of Jerome Ng (68-289), Lam Zhi Qun (78-301) and Johnson Poh (74-305) of Singapore, the Philippines’ chief rival in the SEAG along with Thailand and Malaysia.