Davao's Ababa coasts to 6-shot romp for 3rd ICTSI crown

CALATAGAN, Batangas – Davao's Jhonnel Ababa bucked a shaky start with a fiery windup to rout the field with a closing 71 and annex his third leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour via a six-shot victory over Mhark Fernando and fellow Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge here.

What had appeared to be a wild finish turned into one-man show as Ababa rebounded from an opening 38 with three birdies in the first four holes at the back, frustrating erstwhile pursuer Cassius Casas and a charging Fernando to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the P1 million tournament.

He pooled a 206 and beat Fernando and Lascuna, who both carded 71s, by six for the top P200,000 purse – his third leg victory in the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. after ruling the ICTSI Iloilo and ICTSI Riviera stages in close fashions.

“Medyo sinuwerte na lang sa backnine,” said the soft-spoken Ababa, who is expected to move up to No. 3 from No. 5 in the Order of Merit ranking with two legs left in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Fernando, six shots behind Ababa at the start of the final round, rallied to within two with a solid 34 but fumbled with a 37 at the back while Casas moved within a stroke at the turn but faded with a double-bogey, par, bogey-bogey start at the back and limped home with a 77.

Fernando and Lascuna wound up with 212s and shared the combined prize of P185,000 while Anthony Fernando shot the day’s best score of 69 and salvaged joint fourth with Marvin Dumandan, who had a 75, at 213. Each got P45,000.

On hand during awards rites were ICTSI PR mananger Narlene Soriano and Calatagan general manager Dave Hernandez.

“It’s not yet my time but I know it will come,” said Mhark Fernando, who had hoped to add the crown to his maiden win at ICTSI Del Monte recently.

Casas tumbled to joint sixth at 214 in the company of Ebarra Quiachon, who fired a 70, and Joenard Rates and Jun Bernis, who both had 75s while Elmer Saban and Ferdie Aunzo shared 10th place at 215 after 73 and 74, respectively.

Zanie Boy Gialon pocketed his second amateur crown in as many weeks as the reigning Samsung Am champion made a 77 for a 222 for joint 24th overall, beating ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Alex Nallos, who skied to an 80-226, by four for low amateur honors.

Ababa, who had anchored his bid in the first two rounds with solid stints at the frontside, turned in an uncharacteristic 38 marred by back-to-back bogeys from No. 8, enabling Casas to threaten within one with a 37 and Mhark Fernando to close within two with a 34.

But that was the closest that his rivals could get as Ababa regained his touch, rhythm and all and rammed in those birdies inside six feet to foil his rivals and record another win in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)