Cassius Casas overcame a spirited final-round charge by Elmer Salvador Saturday, shooting a level par 70 to win the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge by one stroke at Sta. Barbara in Iloilo.
The 48-year-old Casas drained a two-putt birdie on the par-5 14th to regain control and Salvador failed to come up with that one important birdie to forge a playoff in the final two holes as he settled for a 68.
In scoring his first win since ruling the rich The Country Club Invitational last February, Casas finished with a 272 aggregate, eight-under over the tree-lined, ravine-laden layout.
“It feels good to win again. I’m really hitting well this year and I hope to win at least two or three more before the season ends,” said Casas in Filipino.
It was a sorry setback for Salvador, who went bogey-free in the last 36 holes, but still came up short to add this leg to his impressive victory in the foreign-laced ICTSI Riviera Classic last May.
Salvador didn’t have a bogey in the final two rounds.
“My putts just didn’t fall in the last two days,” rued Salvador in Filipino.
Orlan Sumcad birdied No. 17 to salvage a 69 and finish two shots behind in third spot, his best finish this season.
Arnold Villacencio, a co-leader at the halfway mark together with Salvador and Casas, closed out with a 67 to catch Antonio Lascuna, who carded a 68, at 275.
Mark Fernando and Rolando Marabe carded 68s for 278s, while Rene Menor turned in a 69 for solo eighth at 279 in the tournament backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Srixon, FootJoy, It’s More Fun in the Philippines, Callaway, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Sharp and KZG.
Casas, who missed the cut twice and blew at least two title cracks with final round collapses after eight legs, stretched his lead to five with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4.