Jerome’s fightback scuttles Juvic

SILANG, Cavite — Heart of a champion.

That’s what Jerome Delariarte showed in fighting back from three holes down and wearing down archrival Juvic Pagunsan in a duel experts believed was a virtual championship match, clinching a 1-up victory in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship at the Langer course of the Riviera golf complex here.

Never losing hope when the chips were down and flashing the same resiliency he showed in foiling Jonard Rates upset bid Wednesday, Delariarte came through with a solid backside stint he highlighted with a spectacular par-saving putt from 20 feet out on No. 17. He went on to claim the victory that lined him up for a crack at the crown he won over Angelo Que last year.

Delariarte battled back from three holes down in the last nine hole with a couple of birdies and a gutsy par to draw level then came through with a spectacular curling par-saving putt from 20 feet out on No. 17 to stay alive in practically the same manner by which he rose from the grave to turn back Rates.

This time, the 24-year-old defending champion clinched the match with a rescued par from the bunker on the par-4 No. 2 — the second playoff hole — as he confidently rolled in his three-foot putt moments after watching Pagunsan, the SEA Games champion, flub a six-foot par putt bid and sink into his knees in frustration.

Both players made regulation pars on No. 1.

Marvin Dumandan, Boyet Saragoza and Jay Bayron, all from Davao, took the three other berths in the semifinal round of this annual event staged by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Dumandan earlier scored an abbreviated triumph over Tommy Manotoc, who conceded the match after going 2-down in the first nine holes, a break the 23-year-old Davao native made full use of as he booted out Raymund Sangil, 2 and 1, in their quarterfinal matchup.

Bayron, a former member of the national team, had an easier ride to the semis although he had to struggle past Miko Alejandro, 2 and 1, in the round of 16 before whipping jungolfer Lawrence Negrido, 4 and 2, in the quarters.

Saragoza, on the other hand, completed the march of three bets from the talent-rich Davao into the semis as he foiled 13-year-old Tonton Asistio’s bid with a 4 and 2 victory, hours after beating Gene Bondoc, 2 and 1.

The last Davaeno to rule this event, sponsored by DHL, Philippine Sports Commission, WWWExpress and DHL Worldwide, was now-pro Elmer Salvador in 1998 in Alabang. A victory by Dumandan will assure another champion from the province, which produced the likes of Cassius Casas, Tony Lascuna and the Ababa brothers.

"I needed to play aggressively at the back to stay in the game," said Delariarte, whose trouble-marred frontside game enabled Pagunsan to build a three-hole advantage.

Birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 and a scrambling par on No. 12 wiped out that three-hole deficit but it was his crucial putt on the par-3 17th that turned the game around for Delariarte, who stared at a bogey stint after missing the green and pitching poorly some 20 feet away from the cup.

But with a heart of a champion, he knocked in the putt and kept the match level.

Delariarte and Pagunsan built up enough confidence heading into their keenly-awaited match with Pagunsan demolishing Ronnie Torrecampo, 6 and 5, and Delariarte thumping Erwin Vinluan, 8 and 6, in the round of 16. With Delariarte struggling with his game, Pagunsan raced to a three-hole advantage by taking the last three holes at the front.

Against Dumandan, Delariarte said he must continue to play aggressively and go for pars or birdies, knowing fully well that his rival could use his familiarity with the course having been a golf marshall here for a year.

"We’ll see," said the soft-spoken Delariarte.