|
TAGAYTAY
CITY—Angelo Que and Mars Pucay each missed birdie
chances to allow Thailand’s Wiust Artjanawat to escape
with the overall championship of the rain-delayed
$50,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines at the
Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club on Sunday.
Artjanawat, who finished eighth in the Asian Tour’s
International Championships in March, fired six birdies
for a final round six-under-par 66 and a 19-under-par
269 overall.
Que
closed out with a seven-under 65 for a 17-under total
271 and was tied for second place with Pucay, who carded
a five-under 67 on the last day.
 Play
was stopped for about 45 minutes because of strong rains
and lightning.
Artjanawat, the talented golfer from
Bangkok,
found the up-and-down contour of the Tagaytay Midlands
course challenging but the rain delay helped soothe his
aching muscles.
“I
don’t know why but I felt very relaxed today. I am very
happy to win and felt good all the way. I was a little
tired today so the two delays helped. I had some food
and took a break. Like I said, after the third round, I
tried not to think about winning and it really helped
this week,” said Wisut, who pocketed $8,126.
Trailing
by two after the 16th hole, Que’s charged putt for
birdie lipped out on No. 18 while Pucay’s try on No. 17
came six inches short. Had Que or Pucay made the putt,
it would have given Artjanawat some pressure in the last
two holes.
Que’s
second shot on the 18th zoomed past the green and into
the deep rough on the fringe. His chip almost went in
but the ball continued to roll before it stopped a few
inches outside the green. With a sudden-death chance
still in sight, the putt from about 14 feet missed.
“I gave
it my best shot. I took advantage of the chances along
the way. It was just too bad that some of my putts
didn’t go in,” Que told the BusinessMirror.
Que’s
score equaled the course record of 65—which was
highlighted by eight birdies—established by Pucay on the
first day. He was also second in last week’s
Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia, the season-opening
event on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, and therefore stayed at
No. 1 in the Order of Merit.
“I can’t
complain after two solid weeks. I am playing well, so if
I keep performing like this, I am sure a win will come,”
said Que, who claimed the Philippine Open last month on
the Asian Tour.
Pucay, a
two-time winner in the Asean golf circuit now called
Mercedes-Benz Tour, had a good line on his putt on the
17th. However, like Que, the ball just wouldn’t drop.
“I
didn’t play bad. It was just Artjanawat was better,”
said Pucay, who dedicated his personal record 17-under
for the tournament here to former partner and sponsor
Macky Lopez.
The
burly 18-year-old Kiradech Aphibarnrat took solo fourth
with a 68 for 273. Tied for fifth with 277s each were
Juvic Pagunsan (68), Carito Villaroman (68) and Antonio
Lascuna (72).
The next
event on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, which boasts 10 events
this year, is the Mt. Malarayat Championship at Mt.
Malarayat Golf & Country Club from July 2 to 5. |
