Gaston outguns Olives, snares Phl Srs crown

MANILA, Philippines - Francis Gaston turned in a near-flawless frontside stint then survived a faltering windup to beat Tony Olives by three and capture the NGAP-Globe Business Philippine Senior Amateur Championship crown with a closing 74 at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club in QC yesterday.

Gaston, the former national champion, hit one birdie against two bogeys for a one-over 36 start at the par-68 layout, wiping out an overnight two-stroke deficit as Olives wavered with a 42 for a 79 before cruising to victory in the centerpiece Open division.

Not even a finish of five straight bogeys could shake off Gaston as he wound up with a 54-hole aggregate of 234, three strokes better than Olives, who recovered from a poor start with a closing 37 for a 237.

Herminio Maravilla matched Gaston’s 74 to finish tied for third with Dave Hernandez, who carded a 75, at 238.

Danilo Morales shot a 77 and ended up fifth at 239 while Mari Hechanova, last year’s runner-up, made a 79 for a 242 and finished sixth in the tournament which served as part of the NGAP-Globe Business Amateur Circuit.

Bong Vilchez, tied for second at the start of the final round, never recovered from a pair of double-bogey start, falling farther behind with a 45 at the turn before winding up with a 44 for an 89-249.

Manfred Guangko saved his best for last, firing a 73 and ruling the Mid-Amateur division of the event backed by Pancake House, Titleist and Golf Depot and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Guangko totaled a 232, frustrating two-day leader Ricky Velasco, who skied to an 80 and lost by four with a 236. Inigo Bilbao finished third with a 255 after an 88.

Allan Crisostomo pooled a 36-hole gross of 154 for a net 134 to top Class A of the Mid-Am division with Alan Alegre placing second with a gross 157 for a net 141.

Carlos Inigo III scored a gross 164 (86-78) to dominate Category I (55-59) with Bonifacio De Castro placing second with a gross 171 (84-87) and Ramon Zafra finishing third with a 173 (87-86).

Other winners were Manuel Domingo (155-Category II), Mario Lugay (152-Category III), Ben Liclican (167-Super Senior I), and Jun Galindez (190-Super Senior III).