Park, Del Rosario rule Cangolf Amateur Open

MANILA, Philippines - Korean Park Min Ung scrambled with a two-under 70 and pounced on Del Monte’s Jelbert Gamolo’s final round foldup, snatching a one-stroke victory over Tonton Asistio to retain his Canlubang Amateur Open crown while Asian Gamer Pauline del Rosario took the ladies plum at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna recently.

Park, who rallied from three strokes down to beat Rupert Zaragosa last year, seized control early with a 69 at Cangolf’s North course but fell behind with a second round 71 as Gamolo recovered from a 73 with a sizzling six-under 66.

But the Del Monte bet cracked under pressure and hobbled with a closing 74, enabling Park, playing out of Riviera, to clinch the win with a 70 and a 54-hole total of 210 worth P10,000 plus trophy and gift certificates.

Asistio, who made a 70 and 72, fought back with a 69 to snatch runner-up honors at 211 while Gamolo ended up third with a 213 and young Kristoffer Arevalo totaled 214 after a 73 for fourth in the annual event hosted by Cangolf for the 14th year.

Team ICTSI’s Del Rosario nearly blew a sterling 65 in the first round at South with a 73 to likewise post a one-shot win over Villamor’s Harmie Constantino in the 36-hole ladies division with a 138.

Constantino rallied with a 68 for a 139 for second while Wack Wack’s Diana Araneta took the net crown with 65-62 for a 127, beating Team ICTSI’s Sam Green, who had a 132 after a 68-64.

Park’s repeat win kept the Korean’s domination of the event with Kim In Jae of Eagle Ridge also whipping Zaragosa by three in 2012.

Sharing the spotlight was Enrico Calderon of Canyon Woods, who scored a hole-in-one on South’s 133-yard No. 4 using a Callaway 7-iron and Nike ball No. 4 in the company of Neil Magkilat, Albert Mismanos and Jeff Abalos.

Calderon went on to win the Class C (19-and-above) diadem with a 172 after an 84, edging CSEAA’s Rudy Perez, who had an 87 and an 85, in the countback. Jay Pingol, also of CSEAA, took the net title with a 69 for a 132, nine ahead of CSEAA’s Honma Tetsuo, who had a 141 after a 71.

Calatagan’s Dave Hernandez copped the Class A (11-and-below) crown with a 148 after a 73 at the North, upending club bet Marco Olives, who had a 151 after a 75. Tony Olives, also of Cangolf, took the net title with a 138 after a 70, nipping fellow club mainstay Gooby Yulo, who had a 139 after a 68.