Balasabas ends title search

Jessie Balasabas, the former caddy from Zamboanga, turned back Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk in the first hole of sudden death Saturday to win the P3 million Philippine Masters at Villamor, and snap an eight-year title wait at tough-as-nails Villamor.

Van Der Valk overshot the 18th green on his approach and couldn’t save par from 15 feet, as Balasabas wrapped it all up with a two-putt par from 50 for the P550,000 cash prize.

“The more important thing here is knowing the winning feeling,” Balasabas told the Inquirer. “Now it’s time to start preparing for the second title.”