CALATAGAN, Batangas—Mark Fernando birdied five of his first 13 holes yesterday before settling for a closing 3-under-par 69 to win the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge pulling away from Rufino Bayron.
The ex-national team spearhead, who lives less than five minutes away from the tree-lined layout’s first tee, notched his second victory as a pro with the only under-par total of 212.
Bayron, the joint first-round leader, fired a 74 for 217 with Richard Sinfuego and deposed champion Jonel Ababa sharing third at 218 after closing out with a 69 and 70, respectively.
Fernando built a huge buffer with that hot 13-hole streak and didn’t feel the effect of two straight bogeys from the 14th. With his P200,000 top prize, he vaulted on top of the Order of Merit race with two legs remaining.
The tour’s next stop will be at Canlubang in Laguna, a layout the first four placers are very familiar with, having played in the PAL Interclub as Sugar Barons in a dominant stretch late in the last decade.
Chris delos Santos matched par and was tied with Ababa and Sinfuego. Zanie Boy Gialon shot a 66 to finish with a 220 total, tied with Marvin Dumandan and Elmer Salvador.
Korean amateur Kwang Kang-yul ballooned to a 79 for a 221, while Juvic Pagunsan (69-223) was only good for joint 12th.