Sarah Ababa ended her three-year wait for a maiden pro title with a two-shot victory in the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship despite a three-over-par 75 yesterday at the ravine-laden layout in Trece Martirez, Cavite.
A month after finishing runner-up to pre-tournament favorite Cyna Rodriguez, Ababa held off all pursuers by parring the last three holes to cap a 220 total over 54 holes.
She turned back Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong and Chihiro Ikeda, who both signed for 75s.
The victory was worth P100,000 for Ababa, who finally showed she has what it takes to close out tournaments.
“This is great feeling,” Ababa said after receiving her trophy. “I have been looking for this one for a long time.”
For a while, it looked like Ababa was going to suffer another meltdown after stumbling with a double bogey-7 on the 15th, allowing Ikeda and Hwang to creep closer.
But the former national team member kept her poise and drained long putts for par on the last three holes to preserve the win and become just the sixth winner in the local tour after Rodriguez, Dottie Ardina, Jayvie Agojo, Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand and amateur Princess Superal.
It was Superal’s feat which Hwang came close to matching, but the Korean couldn’t buy a birdie on her last 12 holes.
Rodriguez, who came into the event as the rock-solid favorite, closed out with a 77 for 231, with Anya Tanpinco checking in another two shots behind after an 80. Musong R. Castillo