Martirez, Ilas triumph anew

MANILA, Philippines - Sam Martirez and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas kept the momentum of their title sweep at Skylinks last week as they ruled the 26th annual Costa Mesa Championship in varying fashions at the Costa Mesa Golf Club in California last weekend.

The defending champion Martirez, who nipped Japanese Amy Matsuoka in the countback to snare the premier 14-18 crown in the Summer Golf Championship at Skylinks Golf Club, also in California, went through a wringer again, birdying the last hole from 12 feet to fire a one-under 69 and nip Chinese Ping Huang by one and retain the crown.

The top ICTSI-The Country Club team mainstay actually poised for a runaway triumph in the 14-18 section after taking a three-shot lead over Ping with two holes to go. But Martirez failed to rescue a par from the par-3 17th and three-putted for a double-bogey, enabling Ping, who banged in chip-in birdie, to force a tie going to the par-4 18th.

But the Filipina ace toughened up and hit her approach shot to within 12 feet then drilled in the putt that completely stunned Ping, who flubbed her own birdie-putt from six feet, paving the way for Martirez’s victory.

“It was a pressure-packed putt and she proved up to the task,” said Team ICTSI-TCC coach Bong Lopez of Martinez, who trailed Ping by one despite a 67 in the first round for a 136 aggregate. Ping settled for second at 137 after a 71. Matsuoka came in third with a 72 and a 140 while Abby Arevalo, another TCC bet, rallied with a 67 to snatch fourth place at 142. Sofia Chabon placed fifth with a 143 after a 71 while Pauline del Rosario and Mikha Fortuna ended up sixth and ninth with a 73 and 147 and 77 and 151, respectively.

Olivarez-Ilas, who ran away with the 12-13 crown at Skylinks, carded a one-over off the blue tees and finished with a 145 for a 12-shot victory over American Kamille Dimayuga, who had a 157 after a 77, while Daisy Wan, also of the US, placed third with a 158 after a 75.