Defending champion Corpus tops elimination round, seals KO duel vs Korean

Carl Corpus blew a one-under card with a shaky windup for a 75 but nipped Sean Ramos in a playoff to clinch the top seeding in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Championships at Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on Tuesday.

Corpus holed out with back-to-back double bogeys for a 36-39 as the defending champion pooled a 148 after 36 holes of stroke play, then beat Ramos for low medal honors heading to the knockout stage beginning Wednesday.

He clashes with Korean Ha Tae Won, who finished at 160 after an 82 and edged Jeffrey Gabe, who shot a 76, in the countback for the 16th and last spot in the tournament.

Ramos turned in a 74 to match Corpus’ 148 but settled for the No. 2 spot for a face-off with Seo Dong Bin, who figured in a three-way tie for No. 15 with a 79.

Leandro Bagtas also carded a 74, which proved to be the best in Tueday’s tough conditions, and finished third with a 150 for a duel with No. 14 Josh Jorge.