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ANGELO
QUE has arrived at 29 years old. And from the looks of
it, he would soon be sitting alongside Frankie Miñoza’s
throne—as the country’s top pro golfer to date.
A week after getting a spot at the
British Open, Que won the 92nd Philippine Open with a
final day even-par 72 Sunday, beating Malaysian Danny
Chia and dethroning Miñoza in the process at the
difficult east course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country
Club.
Que matched his worst score of the
week—a 73—and tallied 283, but it was just enough for
him to win by one stroke. He earned $47,550 (about P1.9
million) from the $300,000 total prize fund. It was his
second career win in the Asian Tour. He turned pro in
2002.
Chia turned in a 66 for a 284 total and
took home $32,550 or P1.3 million.
Miñoza, who barely made the cut with 148
(150 was the cutoff score), shot better with two 71s in
the last two days, but they were not enough to overcome
the four-over 76 he turned in on the first day.
The best the 49-year-old Asian Tour
veteran could muster was to tie for seventh place, which
he did with the aid of consecutive birdies on Nos. 12
and 13.
Que, the 2004 Carlsberg Masters
champion, capped his decent round with a sensational
chip from about 20 feet on the fringe of No. 18 for a
“gimme” par putt.
After holing out, Que drew loud cheers,
high fives and congratulatory remarks from more than a
thousand fans who trooped to Wack Wack. And as he left
the green, he bumped into Miñoza, who remarked: “Well
done, Angelo.”
Que replied: “Thanks, Frankie. Now I
know how you felt when you won 10 years ago at the
Riviera Golf Club and here last year.”
But more important, he showed everyone
he could join likes of Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami,
Antonio Lascuna and Mars Pucay as a possible heir
apparent to Miñoza.
“I can’t really say that I’m next in
line. But this RP Open title is truly special for me.
Actually, I still can’t find the right words to say,”
Que said.
Chia, on the other hand, did not expect
to end up at second plane. He was already written off
because he was at 16th with one round left. However, he
kept his composure against the challenges of the East
layout. He had an eagle on the par-five fourth hole and
seven birdies and only two bogeys.
“I had a great start as I birdied the
first and chipped in for an eagle on No. 4. I started
to feel that I might stand a good chance. I didn’t hit
it too well off the tee but my putting was solid,” Chia
said.
Australia’s Gavin Flint, consistent in
the top three for three rounds, matched Que’s 73 for 285
and settled for third spot. He pocketed $18,000. “It is
my highest finish so far in the Asian Tour. I am very
glad where I am right now,” he said.
Antonio Lascuna, another Filipino veteran on the Asian
Tour, would have made it another one-two finish like
last year when Gerald Rosales bagged No. 2 behind Miñoza.
But he bogeyed three of the last six holes for a closing
73 and 286.
Lascuna,
an ICTSI assistant coach, was in the company of Thai
Mardan Mamat and Australian Mitchell Brown at fourth
place. Each received $14,790. “I could not sustain good
shots today,” Lascuna said.
Japan’s Kodai Ichihara, the leader of the first two
days, wound up with a 76 for 287, the same output of
Korea’s Young Nam which was good for seventh place.
The other Filipinos who played through
the fourth round were Murakami (69-289), Jay Bayron
(70-291), Mars Pucay (75-292), Juvic Pagunsan (76-294),
Danny Zarate (74-295), Cassius Casas (75-296), Gerald
Rosales (73-296), Ebarra Quiachon (73-297), Benjie
Magada (72-297), Elmer Salvador (73-297), Richard
Sinfuego (74-298), Robert Pactolerin (75-298), Orlan
Sumcad (76-300) and Rey Pagunsan (79-304).
Jonel Ababa, the lone amateur who made
the cut, was automatically awarded the low amateur
title. He shot a 77 for 303. |
