Tambunting-Pascual rules Nicklaus T-of-C vs Japanese

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines’ Joseph Tambunting and Teody Pascual combined for a net 135.1 to edge Japan’s Tadayuki Murai and Yuna Yamashita and capture the Jack Nicklaus International Invitational Tournament of Champions in Columbus, Ohio recently.

Tambunting and Pascual leaned on their sizzling second-round start of a four-under card at the frontside and went on to fire a gross five-under 137 over 36 holes for a net 135.1.

The Japanese pair returned a 136 from a gross 139 to settle for second with Denmark’s Allan Gaarde and Jesper Lodberg finishing third with a net 140.9.

South Africa’s Darryl Smallwood and Troy Smallwood assembled a net 142.6 to finish fourth in the annual event featuring club champions of various Nicklaus tournaments around the world.

Tambunting-Pascual birdied the 17th hole and then preserved the win with a saved par on the 36th hole.

This is the second JNII tournament of Champions victory for the Philippines, which also won the 2007 edition.

“Winning and representing the Philippines in the prestigious tournament is indeed an honor and great achievement for me and my partner,” said Pascual. “Our hard work and sacrifices paid off with a remarkable win for our country.”

The event began with the Champions Dinner at the Nicklaus Museum where the players were awarded the Golden Bear champions Blazer for winning their respective national crowns.

It was followed with golf at Scioto Country Club, site of the 2016 US Senior Open and previous host to a US Open, Ryder Cup and PGA championship.

Paola Corella and Jose Garcia of Mexico shot a net 145.9 to finish fifth while South Korea’s Jong Seok Son and Sun Ho Yoo came in sixth with a 155.3 followed by Italy’s Francesco Pasinetti and Claudio Zuccari, who had 162.1, and China’s Xuecheng Du and Wenlong Zhang, who made a 162.2.