Steady Zarate nips Dumandan for ICTSI crown

LIPA CITY, Batangas , Philippines  – Eleven years after he last won a title, Danny Zarate tasted victory again, beating Marvin Dumandan in a final round shootout to rule the ICTSI Classic with a closing 69 at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Zarate proved steadier than Dumandan in a thrilling backside duel between a veteran and a rising star who started the final round in joint first, rolling in a curling eight-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to wrest control then pouncing on his rival’s double-bogey mishap on the final hole to annex a three-stroke romp.

“It was tough but I just stayed focused,” said Zarate, who led in the first round with a flawless, course-record tying 65 but dropped into a tie for first with Dumandan after 36 holes with a 74 before closing out with a 34-35 card for a 54-hole aggregate of 208. He won P200,000.

Dumandan also kept himself in check until he cracked under pressure on his final drive, which he dumped into the hazard as he tried to go for a draw for double-bogey. He limped home with a 39 after a lead-grabbing 33 for a 72 and a 211.

“That was my lone mistake,” rued Dumandan, referring to his errant tee-shot that gave the crown to Zarate, who closed out with a routine par. He settled for P120,000.

Down by just one heading into the par-4 18th, Dumandan tried to buck the wind but the gust blew his ball into the big pond instead, including his title chances in the P1 million tournament which kicked off the 10-leg circuit sponsored by ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) and backed by MJ Carr Golf.

It was Zarate’s first victory since topping the Ericsson Tour’s PGA tilt at Wack Wack in 1998 with the Sun Valley pro hopeful of sustaining his form in the coming tournaments of the ICTSI-Phil. Golf Tour.

“I actually regained my form after my joint third place finish in The Country Club last January. But this win will further boost my confidence,” said Zarate, who made back-to-back birdies from No. 5 to keep Dumandan in sight then surged ahead with that birdie on the 17th.

With a monthly tournament to keep the local pros busy till the end of the year, Zarate said he must train further and keep himself in top form with focus on adding more titles to his career 12 victories.

Dumandan was nine holes away from picking his second straight win after topping the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational in Davao late last year. But the 29-year-old Davaoeño, who outgunned Zarate with a birdie and an eagle to gain a one-stroke lead after 9 holes, wavered coming home, losing a stroke on No. 13 to allow Zarate to tie, and the title with that closing double-bogey.

It was a two-man battle from the start as the rest of the surviving field failed to gain any headway in another challenging day with Jerome Delariarte rallying with a second straight 68 to tie Joenard Rates (71) for third at 213. Each got P57,000.

Orlan Sumcad shot a 71 to gain a share of fifth with Juanito Pagunsan (74) and Erwin Arcillas (75) at 217 worth P35,000 each.

Cassius Casas also carded a 71 to tie Vic Santia (74), Jomar Pepito (75), Jay Bayron (76) and Christopher delos Santos (76) at eighth with 218. Each received P23,000.