STA. ROSA, Laguna , Philippines – With nerves of steel, Steve Lewton nailed a 12-footer for par on the playoff hole yesterday and ended up lifting the heavy Solaire Philippine Open trophy at The Country Club.
The 33-year-old Englishman went up and down the wind-blown course, made doubly difficult by the toughest pin placements, for a three-over 75 (287), his worst round after going 70-71-71 the past three days.
Johannes Veerman, a 24-year-old American, was two shots off Lewton at the start of the day. He fired a 73 and had a shot for an outright victory. But he missed a par putt on the 18th hole of regulation from inside 10 feet.
Lewton also bogeyed the 18th, leading to the playoff. Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan, who briefly shared the lead on the back nine, missed the playoff when he bogeyed the 18th.
In the playoff hole, the par-4 18th, Lewton got out of the sand trap to the left of the green then sank the left-to-right par putt. With pressure on his shoulders, Veerman missed his own put for par, from almost the same spot he had in regulation, handing the victory to Lewton.
“Making that putt, which was almost exactly the same one I had in regulation, put the pressure on him (Veerman),” said Lewton after ruling the event sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino in cooperation with Meralco and PLDT.
It was an exciting finish to the $400,000 event that drew 128 competitors, including 80 foreigners.
“Not really. I don’t like it that stressful,” said Lewton in jest as he headed to the scorer’s tent, victory on hand and richer by $72,000 or (P3.6 million).
Veerman closed out at 287, followed by Wannasrichan at 288. American Blake Snyder was fourth at 72-291, then Filipino Miguel Tabuena at 74-292, tied for fifth with Brett Munson of the US (74), Mitchell Slorach of Singapore (72) and Suradi Yongcharoenchai of Thailand (73).
Tabuena was six shots off Lewton after three rounds then ran into misfortunes yesterday with double bogeys on the first and last holes. He had an eagle from 20 feet on the par-5 10th that pushed him just three strokes off the lead.
A bogey on the 16th cut short his late rally and the double bogey on the 18th only pushed him further down and cost the 22-year-old winner of the TCC Invitational last month a few thousand dollars. He went home with roughly $10,000.
Tony Lascuña bogeyed six of his last eight holes for a 79 and 294. He ended up tied for 11th, earning $6,740.
Angelo Que, the former Philippine Open champion, closed out with a 77 for a 300 aggregate, a share of 21st place and a purse of $4,200.
In the end, it was Lewton, the leader after the second round, who wore the biggest smile. But it wasn’t easy, he told reporters.
“It was a struggle toward the end. But my first one (title) in the Philippines is very good. It’s good to come back here and play well,” said Lewton, who finished fourth when he played the 2014 Solaire Open in the same venue just south of Manila.