TARLAC—Tim Stewart finally nailed the victory that has eluded him the past 11 years—and one that nearly slipped from his clutches again by his own undoing—after beating reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla no less in sudden death to claim the ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open crown here on Saturday.
The Aussie turned what had appeared to be a trouble-free romp into a scary triumph, blowing a three-stroke lead with two holes to go with a bogey-double-bogey finish for a 72, and enabling Mondilla to force a playoff at 15-under 273 after the latter charged back with an eagle-spiked 66.
But in a sudden twist of fate, Stewart came out the victor with a routine par in their return trip to the par-4 18th.
Mondilla wound up the vanquished after barely hitting the green and flubbing a par putt from five feet that would’ve extended the playoff.
“Finally, I made it,” Stewart said.