TCC Match Play: Rho edges Depilo, meets Villacencio in semis

STA. ROSA, Laguna – Hyun Ho Rho staged a dramatic comeback to claim the first semifinal berth in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational, edging Rico Depilo on the 19th hole in a pulsating quarterfinal duel at the TCC course here on Thursday.

Facing a daunting three-hole deficit with just four holes to play, the 18-year-old Rho displayed nerves of steel. He birdied the par-4 No. 14 and capitalized on Depilo’s errors to win Nos. 16 and 17, leveling the match heading into the final hole.

Depilo managed to force an extra hole but faltered when his approach on the tricky par-4 No. 1 found water, handing Rho the hard-fought victory.

“I was 3-down going to No. 14, but I birdied it and won Nos. 16 and 17 to make it all square,” said Rho, who has come close to claiming titles before but has yet to break through on the Philippine Golf Tour.

The other semis matchup features seasoned veteran Jay Bayron taking on Albin Engino, both of whom pulled off upsets against higher-seeded opponents. Their victories continue the trend of surprises in the season-ending championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Meanwhile, stamina will play a crucial role as the semis matches are scheduled for Thursday afternoon, demanding both physical endurance and mental resilience from the players.

Rho, a former PGT Q-School topnotcher and sophomore pro, is determined to end his title drought and looks poised for a deep run after finishing runner-up to Angelo Que in the Philippine Masters earlier this year.

Rho now faces 29th-seeded Arnold Villacencio in the semis. Villacencio continued his giant-killing run by ousting No. 21 Dino Villanueva, 3&1.

He set the tone early, establishing a two-hole lead through five holes and thwarting Villanueva’s rallies with clutch pars. Villanueva closed the gap to one hole twice but could not sustain the momentum as Villacencio powered his way to a decisive win.

The other semis matchup features seasoned veteran Jay Bayron against Albin Engino, both of whom toppled higher-seeded opponents, keeping the trend in the season-ending championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Bayron, ranked 18th, outclassed No. 10 Michael Bibat, 2&1, after recovering from an early deficit. Known for his resilience, the 45-year-old Bayron took control at the turn and built a decisive cushion with a birdie on No. 14 and a par on the next.

“Naka-tsamba na naman ang matanda,” quipped Bayron, joking about his underdog status despite his multi-titled career and previous Order of Merit triumphs.

Engino, ranked 22nd, is equally determined to end his title drought, having defeated No. 14 Kakeru Ozeki, 2-up, in a tightly contested match.

The clash between Bayron and Engino promises to be an intense battle of experience versus hunger, as both players aim to end their respective spells on the tour.