Clavecilla coasts to 5-shot win in RP srs

DASMARINAS, Cavite — Iggy Clavecilla put on an amazing display of staying power as he dished out his best game on the last day — a 72 — to run away with the Philippine Seniors Amateur Open crown here yesterday.

With defending champion Richie Garcia failing to mount a big final round charge and the rest of his pursuers fading out one after the other, Clavecilla coasted to a five-stroke victory, capping his wire-to-wire triumph with that solid even-par card at the Palmer course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Counting his earlier rounds of 77 and 78, Clavecilla pooled a 224 aggregate to rule the premier event of this annual tournament for the country’s golfing elders staged by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Garcia settled for second with a 229 after a 75 while Alex Montelibano took third place with a 78 and a 233 in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, DHL Worldwide Express, WWW Express, Airlift Asia, Inc., Mizuno and Master Sports Corp. Peregrin de Guzman nipped Edwin Arcilla and Carlos Coscolluella, Jr. in a playoff to snatch fourth place honors. The troika wound up with identical 236s.

NGAP tournament committee chairman Danny Pizarro, NGAP director and The Orchard chairman Vicente Santos, Anthony Sasin, NGAP director for Mindanao and The Orchard general manager Rene Garovillo awarded the prizes to the winners in various divisions.

In other results, Andres Co closed out with a 78 for a 157 and emerged the low gross champion in Category II, nipping Jodie Moreno, who also shot a 78, by one stroke. Agustin Chua scored a net 63 for a 130 to win the low net crown, beating Rey Ulob, who had a 136 after a 74.

Shigemi Chikama dominated Category III with a gross 149 after a 74, winning by 12 strokes over Marcelo Alfonso (79-157), while Hector Samonte took the low net honors with a 130 after a 70, winning over Richard Benitez, who had a 132 after a 65.

Tony Katigbak likewise rolled to a five-stroke victory over Claro Zablan in the Super Senior I after shooting an 87 for a 172. Zablan had a 93 for a 177, while Eduardo Espejo won the low net honors with a 145 after a 73, beating Ike Aycardo, who also closed out with a 73 and a 147.

Gummersindo Leuterio posted a runaway victory in the Super Senior II as he scored a 168 after an 83 for a whopping 36-shot victory over John Camping, who had a 204 after a 104. Juanito Balbin won the low net title with a 139 after a 76.