Asistio cops Cangolf Am title by 2 shots

Tonton Asistio checked his skid in time with a birdie on No. 17 as he shot a one-under 71 to rule the Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championship by two strokes over ICTSI teammate Joey Huerva at the Cangolf’s north course yesterday.

Asistio, the best Filipino performer in the recent Putra Cup but failed to make it to the World Am team, nearly blew a five-shot lead over Huerva with back-to-back bogeys from No. 10. But he hung tough in the closing holes with a birdie on the 17th for that 34-37 card and a four-day haul of 286.

Huerva moved to within one with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 but failed to sustain his charge as he fumbled with back-to-back bogeys from No. 15 although he made up for these mishaps with birdies in the last two holes for a 68.

He wound up with a 288 then nipped last year’s champion and Cangolf’s Jhonnel Ababa in the countback to claim the runner-up honors and capped The Country Club bets’ 1-2 finish in the event supported by Seamecor Inc., Nature’s Spring, Unilever Food Solutions, Zuellig Pharma Phils., Pacsports, Ayala Land Premier, Pisanti Golf, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and All Visual and Lights Systems.

Ababa, four behind at the start of the round, also closed to within one off Asistio with a birdie on the 12th only to reel back with a bogey on No. 15. He finished with a 69 for a 288 and settled for third place.

Dante Becierra, another TCC bet, rallied with a four-under 68 to snatch fourth place with a 290 in a solid finish he hopes to sustain when he defends the Hong Kong Amateur Open crown next week.

Anthony Fernando also fought back with a 70 to finish fifth with a 291 followed by Cangolf’s Mark Fernando (74-295) and Choi Min Sik (75) and Peter Villaber (72), who finished tied for eighth at 296.

Asistio appeared headed for a romp with a birdie on No. 1 and finished the frontside with similar 34s with Huerva and Ababa. But bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 set up a scrambling finish as Huerva gained four strokes with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12.

But Asistio foiled Huerva with a birdie on the 14th and though he dropped a stroke on the 16th, he made up for this with a birdie on the next to preserve the lead and the victory.