Que keeps Malarayat crown

LIPA, Batangas, Philippines – When it came down to a battle of guts and nerves, Angelo Que showed he’s got enough yesterday.

Que rolled in a pressure-packed par putt from six feet on the last hole to beat Thai Nanchok Tantipokakul by a stroke and successfully defend his title in the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship here.

Que checked a putting skid early in the homeward trip to make two important birdies down his last five holes but that all-important par-saver from a 35-yard chip on the difficult final hole spelled the difference.

Claiming his eighth professional title, Que shot a 70 for a 276 aggregate, 12 under par over the Lobo and Malipunyo nines of the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

Namchok Tantipokakul of Thailand birdied the last hole from 20 feet for a 68 to give himself a chance at a playoff with Que.

It didn’t happen.

“I was able to check my putting stance after the 13th and when I stood over that putt on the last hole, I was pretty confident,” said Que, who won $8,126 (about P380,000).

Richard Sinfuego, the leader of the first and third rounds, was in hot pursuit of his biggest ever title until his game ran afoul in the final three holes.

Sinfuego missed a three-foot birdie on the 17th that could have given him a one-shot cushion then double-bogeyed the final hole when he sliced his drive into the water.

Sinfuego settled for third spot after a 73 and 278, finishing in a tie with Thai Wisut Artjanawat (67) who was also on the winning track until a finish that was just as bad. Artjanawat lost his ball in the rough and took a double bogey on the 17th and then bogeyed the 18th.

Michael Bibat shot a 67 to tie Jerome Delariarte (70) at 279 to complete a strong Philippine showing in this third leg of the Mercedes Benz Golf Tour.

Que’s victory was the first on the Mercedes Benz Tour this season and followed the trend of local players winning at home. The first leg in Singapore was won by Mardan Mamat and the second by Kiradech Aphibanrat in Pattaya, Thailand.