Miñoza ends up joint 71st after closing 71

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza recovered from a second round 82 with a closing one-under par 71 but hardly improved to joint 71st in the Allianz Championship won by Tom Lehman at the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Florida Sunday.

Miñoza actually dropped two shots on Nos. 3 and 4 but fought back with five birdies against two more bogeys, finishing with a 37-34 card and a 54-hole total of 224.

Miñoza took home $1,323 in his US Seniors Tour debut.

The ace Filipino shotmaker had a decent start of 71 Friday but tumbled down to the tailend of the 79-player field with a 10-over 82 Saturday.

He, however, hopes to make up for his so-so stint with a better performance this week when he joins the 78-man roster in the ACE Group Classic at The Quarry in Naples, Florida starting Friday.

Fred Couples is the defending champion in this week’s event.

Miñoza earned a berth in this year’s US Seniors Tour by finishing joint second in last year’s qualifier, also in Florida.

 He is expected to resume his campaign in March in the Toshiba Classic in California, then in the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in Mississippi in April.