Que cruises to 3-shot win vs Sumcad

Angelo Que receives his championship trophy from Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa after ruling the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

LIPA City – Angelo Que clipped amateur Zanie Boy Gialon with a near-flawless backside stint while thwarting Orlan Sumcad’s own title bid with a closing three-under 69 for a three-shot victory in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here, Thursday.
Not even a final-hole bogey could stall Que from annexing his second local crown early in the season as he safely secured the win with a stirring run of four birdies in a seven-hole stretch at the back, foiling at least three rivals for the top P200,000 purse.
He wound up with a seven-under 209, adding the crown to his The Country Club Invitational triumph in January and further boosting his confidence as he sets out, along with the other top Phl golfers, for the rich Malaysian Open next week.
“I’m happy that I already won two titles this year, it’s good for my confidence,” said Que, who tumbled down with a so-so 36 after nine holes marred by a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 No. 4.
But the long-hitting shotmaker, also priming up for next month’s Philippine Open at Wack Wack, rebounded with a birdie on No. 10, added another pair at Nos. 13 and 14 before hitting another birdie oin No. 10 to virtually wrap the second leg crown of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
But Que’s margin of victory didn’t reflect the pressure he had to endure from a slew of pursuers, including Sumcad, in a flight ahead of Que who actually took a three-shot lead with two birdies after four holes and after Que double-bogeyed the par-5 No. 4.
But Sumcad wavered with a bogey on No. 5 and a double-bogey on No. 8 and fell behind by one again at the turn. He reeled farther back by four in the face of Que’s birdie-binge at the back but eagled the par-5 17th to move within two only to blow his bid with a closing double-bogey.
He settled for a 71 and a 212 and pocketed his biggest paycheck to date worth P120,000 in the 54-hole event sponsored by ICTSI, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
"I knew it would be useless with a par on the 18th so I played aggressive and went for a birdie but I ended up in the bunker," said Sumcad in Filipino. "I was really going for the win that's why I tried to go for it."
Little known Arnold Villacencio, one shot behind Que at the start of the final round, also grabbed the lead at the turn with a 34 but fumbled with four bogeys against two birdies at the back for a 38 and 72, ending up joint third with rookie pro and former Hong Kong Amateur champion Dante Becierra, who rallied with a70, at 213. Each got P57.500.
Frankie Minoza, also one shot behind after two rounds, failed to get his game going, turning in a roller coaster round of six birdies against seven bogeys for a 73, finishing in joint fifth with last year’s ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Cassius Casas, who had a 70, at 214. They halved the combined P75,000 prize.
Ranged against Que and co-leader Erwin Vinluan, Gialon held his own and even wrested a one-stroke lead with a 35 at the turn. But the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet cracked under pressure at the back, making three straight bogeys from No. 11 and dropping out of contention.
He ended up with a 75 for joint sixth with teen pro Miguel Tabuena, who rallied with a 71 for a 215 although Gialon ran away with the low amateur honors, beating ICTSI Royal Northwoods winner Jobim Carlos, who had a 73-218, but three. Tabuena won P30,000.
Reigning Phl Open champion Artemio Murakami also failed to contend for the crown, hobbling with a 74 for solo ninth at 216 worth P25,000 while Erwin Arcillas (71), Marvin Dumandan (72) and Ernie Rellon (74) shared ninth place at 217 worth P23,000 each.
Vinluan, who found himself vying for the crown for the very first time, failed to handle the pressure and skied to a 40 after nine holes, finishing with an 81 to drop to joint 19th with Randy Garalde, who made a 71, at 221.PR