INQUIRER Sports

TRECE MARTIREZ, CAVITE, Philippines?Power-hitting Marvin Dumandan shot a one-under-par 71 on Friday to win the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic pulling away from Jay Bayron and Orlan Sumcad.

Playing well enough over a course that demanded the best from everyone the entire week, the 30-year-old Dumandan battled overnight leader Bayron nip-and-tuck in their first five holes before a pitch-in eagle on No. 6 boosted him in front to stay.

Dumandan bagged his third career title, worth P200,000 from a total pot of P1 million, as the only man with a sub-par score for 54 holes?a 214, four strokes clear of Bayron and Sumcad.

Bayron, nursing a one-shot lead at the start of the day, faded out of the fight after hitting Ferdie Aunzo?s ball for his second shot on the 15th, a very reachable par-5. He signed for a bogey instead of a birdie and limped home with a 76.

Sumcad, who shot his fourth career hole-in-one Thursday, turned in a second straight 72 to seal the best finish of his career.

?My irons worked all week,? said Dumandan, who had five birdies against a double bogey and two bogeys.

Dumandan, garbed in screaming orange for the final round, now has at least one triumph each year since 2008, when he broke through as a pro in the tour?s Apo Golf leg in Davao. He also ruled the Eagle Ridge stop last year.

Jonel Ababa of ICTSI-Canlubang closed out with a 76 and won a second straight low amateur honors by a stroke over teammate and reigning national champion Mark Fernando.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout was so tough that this year?s winning score was a far cry from the eight-under tally Elmer Salvador posted last year. Salvador closed out with 76 and wound up this time in a tie for 36th at 231, his bid shot down by an opening 81 Wednesday.

Mars Pucay shot the day?s best score?a 69?and caught former RP Open winner Cassius Casas in fourth spot at 219. Casas had a 75.

Aunzo, the former RP Am champ who started the day just two shots behind Bayron, struggled to a 77 and shared 10th place with Ruben Sasutil (74) and Ramil Bisera (72) at 221.

Fancied Angelo Que signed for a 71 and settled for a tie for seventh with Benjie Magada (72) and Randy Garalde (73) at 220.

The second of a 12-leg series bankrolled by International Container Terminal Services Inc. was organized by the Philippine Golf Tour and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.

The final-round scores:

214?M. Dumandan 71-72-71; 218?O. Sumcad 74-72-72, J. Bayron 71-71-76; 219?M. Pucay 72-78-69, C. Casas 73-71-75, T. Lascuna 71-73-75; 220?A. Que 73-76-71, B. Magada 75-73-72, R. Garalde 76-71-73; 221?R. Bisera 76-73-72, R. Sasutil 75-72-74, F. Aunzo 73-71-77; 222?O. Dungca 80-70-72, A. Asistio 75-75-72, J. Opaco 76-72-74; 223?E. Quiachon 75-72-76; 224?E. Saban 76-73-75, J. Rates 75-74-75, A. Murakami 74-75-75; 225?R. Bernis 76-75-74, R. Sinfuego 71-76-78; 226?J. Ababa (Am) 78-72-76, C. L?ao 77-73-76; 227?M. Fernando (Am) 78-76-73, J. Delariarte 79-75-73, M. Bibat 71-80-76, R. Bayron 78-73-76; 228?R. Pagunsan 79-76-73, R. Depilo 75-76-77, P. Villaber (Am) 75-74-79; 229?R. Pactolerin 75-78-76, R. Glimada 73-78-78; 230?A. Villacencio 80-77-73, G. Bondoc 76-80-74, Z. Gialon (Am) 75-77-78; 231?E. Salvador 81-74-76, E. Arcillas 76-78-77, J. Pagunsan 77-77-77, S. Villaber (Am) 81-83-77; 233?L. Retuerto 78-77-78, E. Estrera 78-76-79, A. Fernando 75-75-83; 234?C. Villaroman 76-79-79; 235?R. Malaga 81-76-78, E. Vinluan 79-77-79, R. Marabe 77-77-81; 236?M. Tabuena (Am) 79-77-80, J. Laput 80-75-82; 240?P. Echavez (Am) 74-83-83