Fiery Pucay coasts to 4-shot TPC victory

MARS Pucay left everyone in his wake yesterday, closing out with a solid five-under-par 67 to win the ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship by four shots over Jun Rates at Southlinks and snap a two-year winless spell.

The lean, long-hitting veteran played his first 10 holes at three-under before completely putting the field away when he chipped in for eagle on the 14th hole.

Pucay tallied an eight-under 280 over the relatively short layout and picked up the P650,000 winner’s purse. The Asian Tour veteran posted his last victory before this in 2012 at Sta. Barbara in Iloilo.

“The eagle on 14 was the turning point,” said the mild-mannered Pucay. “It gave me a five-shot lead and I just protected my lead from there.”

Rates, who started the day tied with Pucay and the young Ryan Lam, fired a 71 to finish at 284, two shots clear of a three-way tie for third among Mark Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo and Elmer Saban who carded 70, 72 and 72, respectively.

Lam skied to a 74 and finished seven behind at 287 like Michael Bibat (67).

Rolando Marabe, who also had a chance in the final round, ballooned to a 76 for 290 and finished alone in ninth— one of his best efforts for the year.

“I am very happy to finish second,” said Rates, the John Hay winner whose runner-up effort to Pucay was worth P430,000. “Mars really played well and practically didn’t commit mistakes.”