Villacencio bags title via playoff

ARNOLD Villacencio birdied the second hole of a sudden-death playoff with Miguel Tabuena yesterday and ended an almost three-decade wait for his first pro win by topping the ICTSI Summit Point Classic in Lipa City.

The 47-year-old, who has had some final round meltdowns recently, drained a pin-high putt for birdie in their third trip on the 18th hole to not only book the biggest paycheck of his career worth P200,000 but also earn the tag as champion.

“I am very happy, because it has been my wish to finally win before I become a senior (golfer at 50 years old),” Villacencio said in Filipino. “It was also an honor because it came against such a talented player like Miguel.”

Villacencio closed out with a one-under-par 71 and Tabuena caught him at the end of regulation play at 275 with a bogey-less 68 to force the playoff.

There was an hour-long delay because of lightning and fairway flood after both had hit their drives on the second playoff hole. But Villacencio came out of the break with deadly focus, hitting his approach to less than 10 feet from the cup.

Tabuena, who also lost in a playoff in the Yeangder Masters of the Asian Tour last month, put his approach into the greenside trap. And not even a blast to within a foot to save his par could extend the playoff.

A win would have been the perfect gift for Tabuena’s 20th birthday today.

Anthony Fernando, the former national champion also seeking his first pro win, closed out with a 70 and Clyde Mondilla assembled a 67 to finish a stroke out of the playoff and share third spot.

Marvin Dumandan, the long-hitting veteran who started the day tied with Villacencio for the lead, floundered with a 73 for 277, two strokes ahead of Antonio Lascuña and first-round joint leader Dante Becierra, who fired a 71 and 72, respectively.

The other backers of the event, the 14th leg of the 16-stage circuit, were Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp and KZG with ABS-CBN Sports & Action, Balls and Inquirer Golf as media partners.