Mamat caps RWM Masters romp

CARMONA, Cavite—They’ve become a familiar sight. The yellow shirt, the runaway score, the Muslim gesture of thanking Allah on the 18th green—all highlighting Mardan Mamat’s domination of the Philippines’ biggest golf event for the year.

The 47-year-old Singaporean veteran put the finishing touches to a swashbuckling conquest of the Resorts World Manila Masters field yesterday by closing out with a three-under-par 69 to win by six shots over Lionel Weber of France at Southwoods’ Masters layout.

Cool and collected the entire week, Mamat made a double-fist pump after sinking a two-footer for par on the 72nd hole for a 260 total that snapped a victory drought since 2012, when he won the Philippine Open at Wack Wack.

“This week was all about rediscovering my confidence—I honestly had no expectations coming over,” said Mamat, clad in the red jacket given to champions.

The 24-year-old Weber mounted a final-round charge to book his best career finish on the Asian Tour. He carded a 70 for 274, two clear of Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, the second placer last year who fired a 68.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the burly Thai ace who started the day just four shots behind, got unraveled in his first four holes and wound up with a 75 that put him in a four-way tie at 278 with Sam Brazel of Australia (69), Hung Cheng-yao of Taiwan (71) and lefty American Paul Peterson, who also shot a 71.

Elmer Salvador emerged as the best-placed Filipino after shooting a 70 for 284, with the fancied Juvic Pagunsan finishing another shot behind after a 71.

Antonio Lascuña, was just six off the pace after 36 holes, closed out with a 76 to finish at 289, one shot behind Miguel Tabuena, who submitted a 73.

“It was all about thanking Allah for the good fortune,” said Mamat, who did what is known as sajdah among the Muslims on the 18th green. “It was the same prayer of thanks I said in Wack Wack (after winning the 2012 PH Open).”

Mamat felt some pressure from Aphibarnrat right on the first hole when the Thai sank a curling 25-footer for birdie to prune the deficit to just three shots.

But Aphibarnrat quickly gave the stroke back on No. 2 when he overshot the green and Mamat regained full control yet again with a birdie on the par-5 fourth, which the Thai double bogeyed.

Mamat, who joked about migrating to the country with two of his biggest victories coming here, won $180,000 from the $1-million pot of the country’s richest tournament hosted by Resorts World Manila.

“I was just kidding about living in the Philippines,” Mamat said. “But I always like to come back to the Philippines. Frankie [Miñoza] is my idol.”

Miñoza, who is turning 55 next month, finished among the tailenders with a 294 total.