Lam a pro champ after 9 years

TARLAC—James Ryan Lam closed out with a four-under-par 68 and broke through as a pro on Friday by ruling the $100,000-Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open at Luisita by four shots to end a nine-year wait for a championship.

Counting earlier rounds of 70, 69 and 67, the 30-year-old Lam tallied a 72-hole 274 to beat American Josh Salah by four and compatriot Jobim Carlos by five over the Robert Trent Jones-designed gem north of Manila.

“I just tried to stay out of trouble,” Lam said after dropping just one shot in the final round—just his seventh for the week—to pocket the $17,500 top purse.  “That was the game plan.”