Hong seizes top Samsung Am Open plum

Charles Hong pounced on the late collapse of Aristeo Mata and Park Jung-soo to pull off a three-stroke victory in the championship division of the Samsung Amateur Golf Open on Wednesday at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

Hong finished birdie-par-par for a four-over-par 76 in the difficult conditions and secured the win when Mata bogeyed the last two holes and first-round co-leader Park tripped on a 6 on the par-3 16th.

Hong, who had a 73 Tuesday, wound up with a 149 total, three better than the 152 of Mata, who also had a 76.

Park, scoring an 81-154, settled for fourth behind Ariel Villasensio, who also had 152 but lost to Mata in a countback.

Former jungolfer Matet Salivio ran away with a six-stroke victory in ladies’ Class A. She carded a tournament-best 72 for 146, six up on Inez del Rosario.

Boy Castro edged past Randy Cabangon with a two-shot swing on the last hole to top Class D. He carded a 97-189 against Cabangon’s 102-190.

Carlos Packing (87-174) won Class C by four over Joel Ignacio (84-178).

Roger Telan’s honesty was an interesting sidelight to the tournament also supported by Inquirer Golf, Glucos Care, A Round of Golf, Omnisource International, International Armouring Corp. and BCLN Golf. Minor sponsors are Dynamic Sports and Leisure, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, ABW Leaves of Life, CranUTI and Gargol.

Telan was being called for a playoff against eventual Class B champion Ben Liclican when the former voluntarily disqualified himself for a wrong entry in his first-day scorecard. He had signed for an 81 instead of 82.

“Roger’s honesty is welcome relief for us golfers at a time when cheating issues are plaguing the local golf scene,” said event organizer Boy Blue Ocampo.

The other winners in the ladies category were Jonah Ilagan in Class B and Sheryll Crystal in Class C.