Fernando bags first tour crown

BUKIDNON, Philippines  – Mhark Fernando finally made his mark as a pro, winning his first crown by beating Juvic Pagunsan by three shots with a three-under 69 in the final round of P1 million ICTSI Del Monte Challenge at the Del Monte Golf Club here yesterday.

Fernando blitzed the backside with three birdies from No. 14, turning what had appeared to be a tightly fought backside battle into a cruise to end a two-year long search for a win while foiling Pagunsan’s bid for a record fifth leg title on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

A tap-in birdie at the par-5 No. 14 sparked Fernando’s blazing finish as he made another birdie putt from pin-length distance on the next then capped his exploits with a third one from 16 feet.

He wound up with a 12-under 204, completing a run of under-par scores that included a 68 and 67 in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services.

Pagunsan, winner of four of the first nine legs of the 16-stage circuit, including a runaway triumph last week in Davao, rallied from three strokes down to draw level with Fernando four times but lost his putting touch and failed to hit any birdie after No. 10.

Fernando actually won the ICTSI Riviera Classic in 2009 but as an amateur and waited this long to savor the sweet taste of a pro win worth P200,000.

Pagunsan also strung up three under-par cards at the tight, mountain-top layout, including a final round 69 as he settled for runner-up honors at 207. He took home P120,000.

The four-leg winner, in a flight ahead with Cassius Casas and Elmer Salvador, appeared headed for an explosive windup when he made three birdies in an eight-hole stretch to catch Fernando at the helm for the third time after No. 10.

Fernando, who had a shaky two-birdie, two-bogey frontside for a 36, birdied No. 11 to go 1-up again but bogeyed the par-3 12th, enabling Pagunsan to tie with back-to-back pars.

Anthony Fernando, one shot behind cousin Mhark Fernando, also made the turn at even par then birdied No. 10 to force a three-way tie for the lead.

But he failed to get up and down on No. 11 and missed a couple of birdie putts in the next four holes. He birdied the par-3 16th but holed out with a bogey for a 72 for solo third at 208 worth P65,000.

Casas birdied No. 3 to tie Mhark Fernando but sputtered with three bogeys in the next four holes on a three-putt (No. 5) and missed green (Nos. 7 and 8). He rebounded with two birdies to salvage a 72 for joint fourth with Artemio Murakami at 209.