Gibson tops Q-School, 19 others earn card

MANILA, Philippines — Rick Gibson closed out with a three-under 69 to rule the 2014 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (foreign) at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course Friday

The Manila-based Canadian gunned down six birdies, stringing three of them in consecutive fashion from No. 2, to counter the three bogeys in his card and was the only player to submit an under-par aggregate with a two-under 286 over four days.

He topped the four-day qualifying tournament by eight shots over Swede Malcolm Kokocinski, who had to birdie two of the last three holes to match par and secure second spot with 294.

Japanese Ryoma Miki carded a 74 for a 297 and third place.

Seventeen other golfers earned Tour cards for this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, which fires off March 13 with the rich Solaire Open.

The circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., will actually kick off on Feb. 5 for the annual P4.5 million The Country Club Invitational featuring the top 30 players in last year’s Order of Merit ranking.

Eric Mina of the US placed fourth at 300 after a 76 while Cho Phil Kyu rallied with a 70 for a 303 and towed 10 other South Koreans into this year’s circuit, which will have 18 legs on tap.

Australian Mark Varela also fought back with a one-under 71 to tie Japananese Yuto Katsuragawa, who had a 77, and Swede CJ Stjarnfalt, who made an 80, at 308. Park Gyuha pooled a 309 after a 73 for ninth and Kim Sun Woong and Kim Chang Hoi finished tied for 10th at 310 after a 72 and 79, respectively.

Others who made it to this year’s tour were Park Kyoung Chun (76) and Cho Byung Kyu (79), who both had 312s, Park JS, who finished with a 320 after a 79, Nam Ji Soo, who hobbled with an 80 for a 321, Elliot Hume of the US, who had a 323 after an 82, Mun Jae Hyung, who carded a 78 for a 324, Bong Jin Ho (78) and Tony Guerrero (79), who both had 326, and Park Jin Hyeon, who clinched the last spot at 328 after a 77.

Gibson used to campaign on the local circuit and the Asian Tour in the late 90s and early 2000s but has since cut down his stints. He is currently the coach of Miguel Tabuena.