Avena rallies, pips Viray in sudden death

LIPA CITY—Abe Avena on Friday fought back from three shots down with a four-over-par 76 and then held off the veteran Rolly Viray in the first hole of sudden death to rule the Philippine Seniors championship for the third time.

The 61-year-old, a standout for Canlubang in the PAL Interclub like Viray, rallied in the closing holes of regulation to force the deadlock at 230 after Viray ballooned to a final round 79.

Avena, a real estate developer who calls Mount Malarayat his home course, scored a routine par on No. 1 of Mount Lobo, the first hole of sudden death, as Viray struggled after landing his tee shot under the tree on the left side of the fairway.

“I knew I had the advantage when I saw him drive it to the left,” Avena, whose past triumphs came in 2013 and 2016, told the Inquirer.

Damasus Wong also signed for a 75 and finished third at 234, with Dave Hernandez, last year’s runner-up to Abe Rosal, rallying with a 74 for fourth at 238.