Dumandan nips Lascuña in sudden death, bags Northwoods crown

BULACAN, Philippines—Marvin Dumandan completed his return to form by nipping Antonio Lascuña with a birdie on the second playoff hole to win the ICTSI Royal Northwoods leg here Friday.   Dumandan caught up with two-round leader Lascuña after 54 holes by closing out with a three-under-par 69 for a 206 total, and then nailed an eight-footer after coming out from the rough on their third visit to the 18th hole.   Lascuña, who also lost in a playoff to Benjie Magada in the Tour’s Orchard leg, finished with a 72 after hitting from a fairway bunker into a greenside trap and bogeying the last hole.   “I just got lucky,” Dumandan said in Filipino. “I always believed that putting will be the key in this tournament.”   It was a great comeback for Dumandan, whose form deteriorated after ruling the Sherwood Hills leg in Cavite last Febuary. He missed cut after cut and even shot an 84 in the first round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last week.   By coming up short yet again, Lascuña, who blew a three-shot overnight lead, extended a woeful reputation as a certified star still winless on the ICTSI Tour since its revival three years ago.   After threatening to blow the field with a birdie-birdie start in the final round, Lascuña tripped on four bogeys against only two more birdies in his last 16 holes.   Magada, meanwhile, churned out the day’s best round of 66 to tie former RP Open winners Robert Pactolerin and Elmer Salvador at 209, three shots off.   Pactolerin, the 1990 Open winner, fashioned out a 67, while Salvador returned a 71.   Ferdie Aunzo, last year’s winner, submitted a second straight 70 and salvaged a Top 12 finish with a 215 total, in a tie with Jay Bayron (70), Omar Dungca (71), Richard Sinfuego (74) and amateur Dante Becierra (74).   Jobim Carlos and Carl Santos-Ocampo, who were on different teams in the last PAL Interclub won by Carlos’ Canlubang squad, fired identical 71s to share low amateur honors at 213.   Obscure Richard Abaring booked one of the finest finishes of his career after firing a 71 for 210 and solo sixth spot, one stroke ahead of Gene Bondoc (69).   Anthony Fernando and Rey Pagunsan, last year’s runner-up, finished tied with Santos-Ocampo and Carlos after a 72 and 74, respectively.   The circuit is organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tour and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.   The final scores:
206—M. Dumandan 65-72-69, A. Lascuña 65-69-72; 209—B. Magada 68-75-66, Rob Pactolerin 74-68-67, E. Salvador 69-69-71; 210—R. Abaring 69-70-71; 211—G. Bondoc 70-72-69; 213—J. Carlos (Am) 75-67-71, C. Santos-Ocampo (Am) 73-69-71, A. Fernando 70-71-72, R. Pagunsan 69-70-74; 215—F. Aunzo 75-70-70, J. Bayron 70-75-70, O. Dungca 71-73-71, R. Sinfuego 72-69-74, D. Becierra (Am) 70-71-74; 216—M. Pucay 70-79-67, A. Engino 74-70-72, J. Bernis 72-72-72; 217—R. Depilo 74-73-70, A. Victoria 74-70-73, C. Villaroman 74-70-73; 218—K. Tayao 77-72-69, J. Lam 72-74-70, R. Garalde 74-72-72, G. Rosales 72-73-73, J. Rates 73-71-74, R. Bayron 71-69-78; 219—MS Choi (Kor) 71-75-73, C. La’O 71-75-73, B. Arancom (Am) 74-72-73, E. Arcillas 74-69-76; 220—A. Asistio 71-75-74, E. Saban 75-70-75