Elmer Salvador tops ICTSI Riviera by 5 strokes

SILANG, Cavite—Riding a wave of birdies in the middle of the final round, Elmer Salvador closed out with a 3-under-par 68 Saturday to snap a year-long victory drought by bagging the ICTSI Riviera Classic by five strokes over two foreigners.

Salvador cracked par for four straight days, gunning five birdies in an eight-hole stretch that bridged the two nines, for a 273 total as he left Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Peter Richardson of England behind.

It was the first win for Salvador since ruling the Aboitiz leg of the Asean Development Tour last year and it gave him momentum going into another $60,000 ADT event next week at Orchard.

Pavit, who held a one-shot lead after a birdie on No. 6, finished with a 72 for 274 like Richardson, who rallied with a 67.

Miguel Tabuena fired a 69 and finished alone in fourth spot at 279 with sentimental favorite Robert Pactolerin, who started the day just one shot behind, winding up another shot back after a 74.

The win was worth $10,500 for Salvador, a former caddy at Apo Golf considered as a late bloomer in the pro ranks.

Jay Bayron was the next best Filipino, finishing in a tie for 10th at 283 with Japan’s Tomokazu Yoshinaga after a 73.