Last hole par seals it for Carlos-Padilla

Jobim Carlos and DJ Padilla checked their skid in time with a routine par on the final hole to foil the Jet Mathay-Alex Etter and Jelbert Gamolo-Rupert Zaragosa pairs in a thrilling finish to the Delimondo National Pro-am crown at Splendido on Saturday.

Carlos-Padilla blew a two-shot edge with two holes to go, heading into the 18th tied with the two teams.

But they proved steadier in the clutch with Carlos tapping in Padilla’s muffed birdie-putt from 10 feet for a 76 to complete a wire-to-wire triumph with a 54-hole 219 total.

Mathay and Etter missed forcing a playoff by flubbing a par putt from eight feet for a 75 and 220.

Gamolo-Zaragosa signed for a 77 after a double bogey on the 18th to be two shots off.

“When they caught us on No. 17, we didn’t panic. We believed in ourselves that we can do it,” said Carlos, who thus nailed his first pro victory worth P360,000.

Though winning in a team format event, Carlos’ confidence is expected to skyrocket in time for the resumption of the Philippine Golf Tour in the ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters on May 23.

Richard Abaring and Karloz Alba carded a 73 to finish fourth at 222 while Michael Bibat and Joel Yamyamin ended up fifth with a 223 after a 72.

Dino Villanueva and Japanese partner Masaichi Otake turned in a 71 for 224, with the Robert Pactolerin-JR Salahog pair shooting a day-best 70 to snatch seventh place at 225.

Joey Huerva and Junro Mamaril skied to a 77 (227) while  Tonton Asistio and Jude Eustaquio shot a 75 for 228.