Koreans rule PH Amateur Open

Tom Kim watched Luis Castro flub a closing five-foot birdie putt to escape with a one-shot victory in the Philippine Amateur Open Championship at Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite, on Sunday.

But while the men’s crown was decided on the last hole, the women’s title was secured as early as the third round with Hwang Min-jeong, despite a closing 73, posting a whopping 16-stroke triumph over fellow Korean Kim Hee Ji.

Kim stormed to a four-shot lead over Rupert Zaragosa and five ahead of Castro after 54 holes. But the reigning PH junior champion bogeyed two of the last three holes of the Couples layout en route to a 73 and a 285 total.

Castro finished with a 69 and placed second with a 286 while Weiwei Gao matched par 72 for third at 291 followed by Zaragosa (76-292), and Singaporeans Gregory Foo (71-293) and Abdul Hadi. —ROY LUARCA