Corpus, Constantino cop Match Play titles

MANILA, Philippines — Carl Corpus put on a late charge to subdue Aniceto Mandanas while Harmie Constantino cashed in on Mikha Fortuna’s late meltdown in sweltering heat as they shared top honors in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Golf Championships at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Corpus, 16, rallied from three holes down after 18 holes and broke away from an all-square match with a par-par-birdie charge from the 32nd hole to hack out a 3&2 victory while Constantino turned what had been a tight duel into a runaway triumph by winning five straight holes from No. 29 for a 5&3 romp.

“I was so determined to win. When I took the first two holes in the afternoon, I knew I got the momentum and the pressure was on him,” said Corpus, referring to his par-birdie start on their second trip on the Players’ course after falling by three in the morning duel.

He grabbed the lead after 27 holes and though Mandanas took the 30th hole to draw level, the graduating Ateneo student won the next three capped by a birdie on the 34th hole (No. 16) to nail his first major championship after winning a junior crown in Thailand in 2015.