Van der Valk upstages Ababa, Lascuna for crown

Guido Van der Valk (middle in blue) celebrates with the crowd after his victory. —PGT PHOTO

Guido Van der Valk swooped in on the wings of a backside eagle and fashioned a final round 69 to rule the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship on Friday in Pampanga.

The Dutchman’s four-day total of eight-under 281 left in its wake Jonnel Ababa and Tony Lascuna, two Filipinos who were locking horns for the crown until Van der Valk charged in the final eight holes to claim the P360,000 top prize by a stroke.

“It was a bit of struggle, actually all week,” said the Manila-based Van der Valk. “I didn’t hit the ball well but my short game has been really, really good this week.”

Down four after 10 holes, Van der Valk fueled his comeback with an eagle on the par-5 No. 12. He then pounced on a crucial two-shot swing on 14 before steadying himself to the finish.

“… I started to hit the ball better in the last nine holes, which is kind of good timing because that’s when it was needed,” said Van der Valk.

Ababa, the third round leader, coughed up a modest 72 while Lascuna fired a 70 as both standouts finished the tournament with a 7-under total (281).

“Too bad I fell short,” said Ababa, who led by four early in the final round after birdies in two of his first three holes.

Lascuña rued missing an eight-foot birdie putt on 18 that could have forced a playoff.

“I had a good read and stroke but the ball just didn’t drop,” said Lascuna, who split the combined second and third prizes worth P372,000 with Ababa.