Mondilla, Tabuena go for crown, history

MANILA, Philippines - Clyde Mondilla and Miguel Tabuena knocked off their respective semifinal rivals in contrasting fashion to forge an all-teen title showdown in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships presented by Samsung in Bukidnon yesterday.

The unheralded Mondilla, who shocked top seed Mhark Fernando in their morning quarterfinal clash, showed tremendous poise and determination in wearing down Julius Bautista, birdying No. 18 to frustrate his rival and complete a 2-up victory in a duel of local bets.

Tabuena, on the other hand, took the easier route to the finals, stamping his class early to complete a 6 and 5 rout of veteran Peter Villaber, 6 and 5, in the lower half of the draw.

So much is at stake in today’s finals starting at 7:30 a.m., a 36-hole duel not only for the crown but also for a place in history.

The 16-year-old Mondilla will try to become the first player from Del Monte to win the crown after Frankie Miñoza won in 1979. Tabuena, 15, seeks to become the youngest player to win the national crown after Artemio Murakami ruled the event at 16 in 1999 at Wack Wack.

The winner may also clinch a spot in the national team set to compete in three top-level events this year, including the Putra Cup, the Nomura Cup and the Asian Games.

Also to be disputed is the ladies crown with Cebu’s Irina Gabasa trying to keep the title at home against Thailand’s Yupaporn Kawinpakorn in a separate 36-hole clash.

The diminutive Gabasa pulled off a queen-size upset of former two-time champion and top seed Anya Tanpinco, 2 and 1, while Kawinpakorn got back at top ICTSI bet Chihiro Ikeda, 2-up, in the other semis clash of the event conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and sponsored by Samsung, Titleist, Mizuno, Crestlink, A Round of Golf, Wow Magic Sing, Inquirer Golf Monthly and BCLN.

Top seed Iggy Clavecilla, meanwhile, clobbered Clifford Celdran, 5 and 3, to set up an 18-hole showdown with second seed Nonoy Dulfo for the seniors crown of the tournament backed by Custom Clubmakers, Gargol, ABW Leaves, N-Lyte, Carn-UTI, Dynamic Sports, International Armoring and Bluemansion. Dulfo outplayed Pili Sison, 5 and 4.

The men’s final is tipped to be a clash of will and determination with stamina virtually out of the question since the protagonists are just in their teens and should endure the grueling whole-day shootout.

But focus will be on Tabuena, a revered name in the jungolf ranks who is now one win away from eclipsing Murakami’s feat 11 years ago.

Tabuena has been dishing solid games in the week, finishing at No. 3 in the stroke play elims and then blasting Noel Langamin, 4 and 3, in the first round of the knockout phase before upending former national team member Jerson Balasabas, 2 and 1.

He outsmarted Gio Gandionco, 4 and 2, in the quarters then stayed focused against Villaber to gain a crack at the crown and history.

But Mondilla, who finished ninth in the qualifiers and bested Arnie Fernando and Jobim Carlos in the first two rounds of match play, will have the edge with their familiarity with the layout and support of the home crowd plus the confidence he gained in stunning top seed Mhark Fernando in the quarterfinals.