Avena rallies, pips Viray in sudden death
LIPA CITY—Abe Avena on Friday fought back from three shots down with a four-over-par 76 and then held off the veteran Rolly Viray in the first hole of sudden death to rule the Philippine Seniors championship for the third time.
The 61-year-old, a standout for Canlubang in the PAL Interclub like Viray, rallied in the closing holes of regulation to force the deadlock at 230 after Viray ballooned to a final round 79.
Avena, a real estate developer who calls Mount Malarayat his home course, scored a routine par on No. 1 of Mount Lobo, the first hole of sudden death, as Viray struggled after landing his tee shot under the tree on the left side of the fairway.
Article continues after this advertisement“I knew I had the advantage when I saw him drive it to the left,” Avena, whose past triumphs came in 2013 and 2016, told the Inquirer.
Damasus Wong also signed for a 75 and finished third at 234, with Dave Hernandez, last year’s runner-up to Abe Rosal, rallying with a 74 for fourth at 238.
