Flawless 66 rewards Pucay with Iloilo crown

ILOILO—Mars Pucay broke a two-year spell on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour yesterday, outgunning Miguel Tabuena with a bogey-free 66 for a one-stroke victory in the P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge here.

With third-round co-leaders Angelo Que, Orlan Sumcad and Peter Villaber hobbling with mediocre scores, Pucay and Tabuena provided the thrills before the eventual winner clinched it with a side hill birdie on No. 16.

Pucay, who last won two years ago in the Forest Hills leg in Antipolo, finished with a seven-under 203 at the par-70 Sta. Barbara layout and pocketed the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

The 17-year-old Tabuena, already the winner of two of the first seven legs on the circuit sponsored by ICTSI, settled for pars in the last three holes and matched Pucay’s 66 to wind up at 204 worth P120,000.

Jonel Ababa and OOM frontrunner Tony Lascuña also fired 66s and wound up tied for third at 205. They halved the combined prize of P115,000.

Que dropped three strokes in the last four holes and shot a 70 and tumbled to joint fifth with Jay Bayron, who carded a 68, at 206.

Sumcad, who led the first round with a 66, remained in the title hunt with a 34 on the front nine then bogeyed four times coming home for a 72 and a 208 total.

Villaber, who fired a 67 to join a three-way tie for the lead Thursday, dropped out of contention early with a 41 and ended up with a 75 to fall to joint 17th at 211.

Pagunsan rallied with a second round 65, and the reigning Asian Tour No. 1 fired a 68 for joint 10th with Clyde Mondilla, who had a 71, and Rene Menor, who made a 72, at 209.

“The turning point was my birdie putt on No. 16,” said Pucay, who took the lead for good after Tabuena drew level following a three-birdie binge from No. 13.

Arnold Villacencio came out of nowhere with a tournament-best seven-under 63 to salvage joint seventh with Mark Fernando, who shot a 69, at 207. Villacencio started at joint 34th but moved up by birdying the first three holes then strung up a stirring four-birdie stretch from No. 11 for that 63.

The event was backed by Sharp, Nike Golf, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno and Foot Joy with support from Event Captain, Inc., Omnisource Inti’l. TPGAP and media partners Balls, A Round of Golf, Inquirer Golf, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Impact.