Miñoza earns P2.5 million in UBS tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza double-bogeyed No. 14 and settled for an even par 71 for joint sixth in the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship ruled by Yuji Igarashi at the Shishido Hills in Ibaraki, Japan yesterday.

Miñoza, just one shot off the pace at the halfway mark but reeled back with a 73 in the third round, fought back into contention with four birdies against two bogeys after 13 holes. But he failed to sustain his charge and stumbled with a double-bogey on the par-4 14th before closing out with pars in the last four holes.

He finished with a 279 and was joined in sixth place by Kazuhiro Yamashita, who had a 73. He took home P2.5 million.

Igarashi shot a one-under 70 and wound up with a 276, nipping Toru Suzuki, IJ Jang and David Smail by one stroke for the crown. Suzuki also had a 70 while Jang and Smail wound up with identical 72s for 277s.

Naoya Takemoto rallied with a 69 to snatch solo fifth with a 278.