Ng wavers, pulls thru; Dottie caps romp

MANILA, Philippines -  Jerome Ng of Singapore blew a two-stroke edge at the start, took a two-stroke penalty on the 13th hole but recovered coming home to win the MVPSF Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship with a closing 75 at Wack Wack’s East course yesterday.

The 24-year-old Ng was practicing his swing on a greenside bunker when he felt he hit some sand. He said no one saw the infraction. Yet he called the attention of the chief umpire, and was eventually penalized.

The two-stroke penalty dropped Ng into a tie for the lead with Filipino Rupert Zaragosa with five holes left. But it didn’t matter to the Singaporean because he said it was the right thing to do.

“After I penalized myself I felt better,” said Ng, who quickly regained the lead with a birdie on the 14th. Zaragosa parred the 14th and gave it all up with a bogey on the 16th. 

After his birdie on the 14th, Ng parred the remaining holes. for that 75 and a 72-hole total of 300. He drew cheers from the greenside gallery after holing out as he won by two strokes over Malaysia’s Muhammad Razif (72), Korea’s Sang In Jung (73) and Zaragosa (75), who all had 302s.

It was the first national title for Ng, who said he would have penalized himself even if it would cost him the victory. To him, it was out of the question.

“Yes. Yes,” he said during the awarding ceremony.

“I wouldn’t feel good if I did not penalize myself and won. That would have been unfair to all the other participants,” said Ng, who thus kept the crown for Singapore won by compatriot Gregory Foo last year.

“I’m a happy golfer. After that incident I just tried to enjoy each shot, every challenge,” said Ng, who was about to call his parents back home to announce the victory.

“I’m sure they will be very happy. I think they were more nervous than me,” he said. 

Zaragosa, who made a lot of heads turn in this tournament, could have taken solo second, but his birdie putt on the 18th lipped out and lost in the countback.

In contrast, Dottie Ardina cruised to victory unopposed, wrapping up another crown after leading the Philippines-ICTSI team’s sweep of the Singapore Juniors last December as she beat Orchard’s Mia Legaspi by eight with a 73 in the ladies side.

The 18-year-old Ardina, who stormed to a seven-shot lead after two rounds, parred the last nine holes after a 37 start marred by a double-bogey on the par-5 No. 5 as the top ICTSI-The Country Club spearhead annexed another diadem with a 54-hole haul of 215.

Ardina annexed a total of nine titles last year, including the Taiwan, Penang and Cangolf Am titles before capping her banner season with a victory in the Singapore Juniors.

“I played pressure-free after making two early birdies on Nos. 2 and 3. It’s nice to win again,” said Ardina, who is looking forward to next week’s Philippine Ladies Open at Mt. Malarayat and the Southern Ladies Open early next month.

Legaspi turned in a decent 74 and secured second place at 223 while Princess Superal, the other ICTSI-backed bet, closed out with a 76 to place third at 229 in the event backed by Pancake House, Titleist, Golf Depot, Pacsports and Autohub, the official transport service provider.

Jayvie Agojo tried to rally from way behind with a fiery 34 but the reigning Santi Cup champion turned cold at the back, dropping four strokes in the last four holes, including a double-bogey mishap on No. 17. She wound up with a 75 and finished fourth at 230.

Malaysian Nur Durriyah carded a 76 to tie Sock Hwee Koh of Singapore, who had a 78, and Felicia Medalla, who made an 80, at fifth with 231s. 

It was the second Philippine Amateur crown for Ardina after winning her first in 2009.

During the awarding ceremony, she faced questions on when she would be turning pro.

“No plans yet. Wala pa po. Hindi pa po,” she said.

The tournament that was put up by the MVP Sports Foundation served as the kickoff leg of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour with Pancake House, Titleist, Pacsports, Golf Depot and Autohub as backers.