Ernie Rellon, Marcel Puyat top Samsung national pro-am

MANILA—Ernie Rellon and crack amateur partner Marcel Puyat Saturday closed out with a three-over-par 75 to post a three-shot victory over Randy Garalde and Ryan Co in the Davao National Pro-Am presented by Samsung at the heavily wooded Apo Golf layout in Davao City.

Rellon-Puyat picked up two shots early in the final round to wriggle out of a three-way tie for the lead at the start of the day and held on with a 220 total.

Garalde-Co carded a 78, like Buboy Jaraulla and Raymond Jaraulla, the other team in that first place tie, but won out in a countback because of a birdie-birdie finish.

The victory was worth a handsome P172,000 for Rellon, who has drifted back to obscurity since the start of the decade after forgettable finishes in the defunct Philip Morris and First Gentleman’s Tours.
The Jaraullas, cousins who honed their skills at Del Monte in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, actually took the lead as Rellon-Puyat bogeyed the 10th.

They were in the lead until the 14th before signing for a triple bogey 7 on the 15th hole and totally dropping out of the title chase by finishing with two bogeys in their last three holes.

Rellon and Puyat failed to hit any birdie at the back but came through with a couple of clutch pars to preserve the lead they took at No. 15.

Garalde took home P116,000 for his runner-up effort while Boboy Jaraulla settled for P68,000 even as their amateur partners received corresponding merchandise and trophies in the event backed by Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction.

Rellon-Puyat failed to drain a birdie in the back nine but came through with a couple of clutch pars to preserve the lead they took at No. 15.

Eddie Bagtas-Aris Mata shot a 77 for fourth with a 224, while Antonio Asistio-Brent Sumampong (81) and first round leaders Elmer Salvador-Ludwig Ledesma (77) finished tied for fifth at 227.

Three teams—Raul Minoza-Bunny Abano (81), Jun Bernis-Toffee Tionko (77) and Ferdie Aunzo-Monchit Macay (73)—wound up with 228s for a share of seventh while the Rufino Bayron-Chikoy Saavedra pair placed 10th with a 229 after a 73.

Frankie Miñoza and partner Ting Castillo ballooned to an 82 and ended up in joint 15th with three others at 233.

The other backers of the event were Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Footjoy, Air Philippines Express, Titleist by Empire Golf, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int’l.