Fernando repeats Riviera triumph
SILANG, Cavite—Steady the entire week, Mark Fernando closed out with a level-par 71 yesterday to win the P2.5 million ICTSI Riviera Classic by three strokes over Jessie Balasabas and snap a two-year drought at the ravine-filled Langer layout here.
The soft-spoken former Philippine team spearhead parred his last 11 holes and then wrapped up the P450,000 champion’s purse on the 17th when Balasabas three-putted from about 17 feet.
Starting the day four strokes ahead, Fernando saw his lead dwindle to two with a bogey on the first hole but slowly worked his way back in the mix, with a birdie on No. 7 getting him back to even and an eventual five-shot lead coming out.
A standout product of the National Caddies Open like Balasabas, Fernando totaled 280 for 72 holes and booked the biggest win of his young pro career. He actually won the event for the second time, but his first triumph in 2009 came when he was still an amateur.
Balasabas rallied in the final nine with four birdies in his first seven holes to finish with a 70 and a 283 total.
He came within two strokes again after picking up two shots on the 15th and 16th but three-putted the par-3 17th for bogey to give Fernando an unassailable three-shot cushion going into the tough closing hole.
“That was the plan at the start of the day, with a four-shot lead, to play steady,” Fernando said in Filipino. “There was no need to gamble on my part. If I have a chance for a birdie, I go for it.”
Former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales, the first-round leader, carved out a 69 and finished third at 285, with the veteran Robert Pactolerin also rallying with a 71 to wind up another stroke back.
“I totally misjudged the speed of that putt,” Balasabas said.
It was also the best finish in the two-year career of Balasabas. His second place finish was worth P320,000.
EVENT BACKERS: Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.
