Hot Mondilla escapes with 3rd PGT title

CLYDE Mondilla nailed a third victory in the Philippine Golf Tour this season, and it wasn’t carved out in the prettiest of ways.

Mondilla ruled the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Classic yesterday despite a double bogey in the first hole of sudden death with Orlan Sumcad, running away with the P360,000 top prize to highlight what has been his most prolific season so far.

Sumcad, a veteran long in search of a breakthrough win, closed out with a six-under-par 66 and tied Mondilla at 273 after 72 holes after the eventual champion fired a final round 67 at the complex’ composite nines in Lipa City.

It was a tournament for Sumcad to lose after hitting a perfect drive on the 18th fairway after regulation and Mondilla needing a penalty after his drive, only to overshoot the green out-of-bounds and sign for a triple bogey 7.

“I will never forget this win,” Mondilla said in Filipino.

Mondilla won the Manila Masters at Eastridge also via a playoff over rookie Jobim Carlos, before adding the Calatagan crown the following week.

After hitting his approach out of bounds, Sumcad couldn’t find the green after taking the drop. He two-putted for that triple bogey and settled for the P250,000 runner-up prize.