Carlos finally claims PH Amateur crown

JOBIM Carlos finally got over the hump yesterday.

A bridesmaid three times before, Carlos finally won the Philippine Amateur Stroke Play championship by steadying himself in the closing four holes to win pulling away from a hard-fighting Rupert Zaragosa at the Aoki layout of Eagle Ridge.

The 21-year-old Carlos birdied the par-5 15th for the critical two-stroke swing on Zaragosa and closed out with a level 72 for 289 to win by three shots over his pint-sized rival and give himself a good going away present when he turns pro later this year.

“Finally,” said Carlos, who will graduate with an advertising degree from the University of San Francisco in May. “It has become painful finishing second so many times. This is simply a relief and I am very happy.”

Zaragosa, who was trying to win and secure both the boys’ and men’s championships at the same time for the second time in his career, returned a 74 for 292.

Cebu Country Club ace and defending champion  LJ Go  finished six strokes behind Carlos, whom he beat by 11 last year at Wack Wack East, after shooting a 73 on another tough day.

Carlos started the final round holding a one-stroke lead over Zaragosa, who pulled level on the 14th hole after two straight missed green bogeys by Jobim.

But Carlos, who came into the tournament after ruling the qualifying for the 2015 ICTSI Philippine Tour, regrouped just as quickly with a one-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th set up by a terrific bump-and-run play from less than 30 yards away.

Zaragosa blew a birdie try from just 10 feet out then missed a par putt from just over two feet to practically give the title to Carlos, who later embraced former NGAP president Tommy Manotoc on the 18th green.

Korean Lee Hyong Hyun fired a 70 and completed a rally from seventh spot to rule the women’s division.