Philippine Sports News and Updates

STA. ROSA, Laguna, Philippines – Angelo Que scored an expected romp in the P4.7 million The Country Club Invitational yesterday, beating the very players who beat him in the last two years with a closing 72 for a five-shot victory over two-time champion Juvic Pagunsan at the wind-raked The Country Club course here.

Que kept his overnight six-shot lead over last year’s runaway champion Artemio Murakami practically intact in the first nine holes under calm conditions, then fended off Pagunsan’s charge with gutsy pars in a windy backside stint to emerge the year’s first golfing millionaire with a P1.45 million victory.

He knocked in a difficult downhill putt from 20 feet for birdie on the 72nd hole, then pumped his right fist and tipped off his cap to cap his week-long brilliance against the cream of the country’s pro crop and on one of the toughest courses in the land with a sleek putting surface.

He finished with a one-under par 279 total, anchoring his runaway triumph with solid rounds in the first three days – a pair of 68s and a plucky 71 fashioned out under brutal conditions Saturday.

“Unlike in my 2007 win, I played more relaxed today,” said Que, who overhauled a four-shot deficit in the final round to beat Elmer Salvador in the 2007 edition of what has become the country’s golfing major.

“But I think I gave it all in the first three days. So I just kind of reaped the reward today,” said the 31-year-old shotmaker, who has raked in over P4 million in the last four years here, including runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2009.

Pagunsan, the 2006 and 2008 champion in this event put up by ICTSI chief Ricky Razon, started the final round eight shots behind Que in a separate flight but rallied with a one-under 70 for a 284, jumping from joint fifth to solo second worth P690,000.

Marvin Dumandan turned in a two-over 72 and snatched third place honors with a 286 worth P430,000. Murakami, who ran away with last year’s crown via a record 13-shot victory over Que, faltered with a four-over 74 and slid to fourth with a 287. He took home P310,000.

Unheralded Ramil Bisera completed an inspiring top five finish despite a closing 75 as he assembled a 290 and won P230,000, besting the likes of Asian Tour veterans Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay and Frankie Miñoza, who finished joint sixth with 291 worth P156,334 each.

Lascuna matched par 70, Pucay carded a 73, while Miñoza, who bounced back with a three-under 67 in the third round, failed to sustain his charge and stumbled with a 76 as the par-70 layout yielded just one under-par score and one even-par round.

Joenard Rates, who upstaged the high-powered field with a 67 in the first round, also struggled with a 76 and wound up ninth with 292 worth P115,000 while Jun Bernis (73) and Philippine Open champion and Philippine Golf Tour’s Order of Merit winner Elmer Salvador (75) ended joint 10th with 293. Each received P98,500.

Reigning national champion Mhark Fernando emerged the low amateur with a 289 aggregate for a fifth place finish after a 71, nipping Chihiro Ikeda, who had a 72 and a 291 as erstwhile leader Dottie Ardina faltered with a 78 and a 292 for third.

Que hopes his victory will augur well for his campaign in this week’s Asian Tour International, the kickoff leg of this year’s Asian Tour in Thailand.

“Actually, it’s not the win but the way I played this course,” said Que, who had to try out a variety of knockdown shots all week which he hopes to brandish in windy courses abroad, including in the British Open qualifier middle of this year and the US Open elims.

“I have been practicing this kind of shots with the help of coach Bong (Lopez) and I hope this would help me in my campaign this year,” said Que, who came into this year’s eighth staging of the TCC Invitational aiming to shoot under par.

“Given the toughness of this course, my target here was not to go over-par in four days,” said Que.

With a 279 total, he was indeed on target, emerging the lone player to shoot in under-par.

• Philstar
• Philippine Sports Central