Jordan rules Aboitiz tilt, bags first PH golf crown

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite— Australian Damien Jordan nailed his first Philippine Golf Tour Asia crown in style, beating a stellar field with a brilliant final round 68 for a whopping four-stroke victory over Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul in the Aboitiz Invitational at Orchard’s Palmer course here Saturday.

Jordan fended off the early threat of Tantipokhakul and Angelo Que with a decisive four-birdie binge in a seven-hole stretch linking both nines, turning what was expected to be a down-to-the-wire battle into a runaway triumph as his putting clicked and his rivals faltered one after the other.

“I putted superb,” said Jordan, who was aching to bounce back after falling short in his first stab at victory where he settled for third to Jhonnel Ababa and Korean Kim Joo Hyung in Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational last week.

Jordan pooled a 15-under 273, spiked by a lead-grabbing 64 in the first round of the $100,000 tournament, the fifth leg of this year’s PGTA.

“I had no pressure as the leader so I tried my best to avoid making mistakes,” added Jordan, who earned $17,500.

Tantipokhakul totaled 277 to take home $11,500. Que finished tied for third at 278 with Michael Bibat and Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia. Each received $5,666.