Clavecilla annexes 4th straight Seniors crown

MANILA, Philippines – Iggy Clavecilla bucked Pepot Iñigo’s sterling even par round with a steady backside stint to card a 79 and complete a rare four straight championship in the centerpiece division of the Philippine Senior Amateur Open at Riviera’s Langer layout in Silang, Cavite yesterday.

It was Clavecilla’s third straight eight-over par card at the par-71 ravine-laced layout. The Luisita mainstay needed to steel himself up in the last nine holes to hold off the charging Iñigo and secure his fourth victory in a row in the Championship Division.

Iñigo battled from 13-strokes down to move within six after nine holes behind a solid two birdie-two bogey stint at the front for an even 35 as Clavecilla stumbled with four bogeys and a triple bogey for a 42.

But Clavecilla birdied No. 10 to stop Iñigo, then made a slew of pars against two bogeys for a 37, foiling his challenger, who closed out with another two birdie-two bogey effort in the last nine holes.

Clavecilla’s three 79s gave him a 237 total for a five-shot win over Iñigo, who jumped from sixth place to claim the runner-up honors in the 54-hole event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Dave Hernandez wound up with an 82 and slid to third with a 248 while Caloy Coscoluella had an 84 for a 253 for fourth followed by Tony Olives (86-256), Rene Unson (81-258), Sengyo Kato (87-260), Rolly Viray (92-262), Bing Bunyi (88-263) and Hwan Youn An (85-268) in that order.

Ben Jacinto pooled a 167 to nip Katy Katigbak, who had a 168, and claim the Category II (60-64) title with Jose Escobar (145) edging Clyde Fernandez (146) for the net title.

Norman Tugot ruled Category III (65-69) with a 161 for a four-shot win over Ben Liclican (165) while Cesar Castro took the net championship with a 128, beating Arsenio Paredes, who had a 143.

Peter Shanks topped Super Senior I (70-74) with a 177 while Jun Galindez scored a 190 to run away with the Super Senior II (75-above) title over Jun Inigo, who had a 214. Former President Fidel V. Ramos won the net championship with a 164, beating Enrique Beech, who made a 174.