Dumandan romps off to four-shot win

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite, Philippines – Marvin Dumandan pounced on a three-shot swing over Jay Bayron on No. 6 and went on to fire a one-under par 71 and essay a four-shot romp over unfancied Orlan Sumcad and Bayron in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic at the Sherwood Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Dumandan, one down behind fellow Davaoeño Bayron at the start of the final round, actually wrested the lead early with a birdie on No. 1, which Bayron bogeyed but reeled back as he dropped three strokes in the next two holes and fell behind by two again.

But he birdied the par-3 No. 6 from 12 feet then watched Bayron make a three-putt after missing the green for double bogey to gain a one-stroke lead which he used as a springboard to rout the field and pocket the top P200,000 purse on a 54-hole total of 214.

Holding on to the lead after nine holes, Dumandan, who ruled the rain-hit ICTSI-Eagle Ridge leg last year and wound up third in the Order of Merit ranking of the Philippine Golf Tour, pulled away with a birdie-blast on No. 11 and a tap-in birdie on No. 15, turning what had been a tightly-fought contest into a rout despite a final hole bogey.

“”I was more in control and confident today (yesterday) and I’ve been playing quite well with my new irons,” said Dumandan, referring to his new Ping G-15 set, in Filipino.

Bayron, winner of the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic last year, never recovered from a 39 and limped home with a four-over 76 for a 218, settling for joint second with Sumcad, who missed clinching solo second with a bogey on No. 18 for a 72.

Sumcad, who trailed Bayron by four shots after two rounds, held his ground with four birdies against three bogeys after 17 holes but sputtered in the end for a career-best joint runner-up finish.

Mars Pucay, one of the Asian Tour regulars making a rare appearance on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., rallied with the day’s best score of three-under 69 and a 219 to salvage a share of fourth with Cassius Casas and Tony Lascuña.

Casas and Lascuña started the day just two shots behind Bayron and one off Dumandan but the veteran campaigners failed to mount a challenge as Casas made four straight bogeys from No. 11 before hitting an eagle on No. 15.

Lascuña double bogeyed the par-4 No. 5 and made back-to-back bogeys from No. 12 to match Casas’ three-over 75.

Angelo Que carded a 71 for a 220 and finished in joint seventh with Benjie Magada (72) and Randy Garalde (73) while Ferdie Aunzo, tied with Casas and Lascuña after 36 holes, skied to a 77 to drop to joint 10th at 221 with Ramil Bisera (72) and Ruben Sasutil (74).

Elmer Salvador, the reigning Philippine Open champion who ruled the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat last month, hobbled with a 76 for a 231 and finished in joint 33rd with Juvic Pagunsan, who had a 77, Arnold Villacencio (73), Gene Bondoc (74), Erwin Arcilla (77) and amateurs Zanie Boy Gialon (78) and Sonny Villaber (77).

Jhonnel Ababa carded a 76 for a joint 22nd at 226 as he edged reigning national champion and fellow ICTSI-Cangolf teammate Mhark Fernando (73-227) for low amateur honors in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.