Mondilla trounces Tabuena, cops RP Am crown

MANILA, Philippines - Club bet Clyde Mondilla turned his anticipated down-to-the-wire showdown with Miguel Tabuena into a rout as he cruised to a 9&8 victory to capture the crown in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships presented by Samsung in Bukidnon yesterday.

Mondilla, 16, recovered from early three-putt miscue with a cluster of birdies – four – then gunned down an eagle on No. 9 of the Del Monte Golf Club to go 6-up before winning two more holes for an 8-up lead after 18 holes in the morning clash. He sustained his form in the afternoon and made a birdie and clutch pars to foil his 15-year-old rival’s bid to become the youngest player to win the championship.

He needed just 28 holes to cut short their scheduled 36-hole duel, birdying the 27th hole, actually No. 9, before matching Tabuena’s par to wrap up the crown and match Artemio Murakami’s feat in 1999 when the Fil-Japanese became the youngest player to win at 16 at Wack Wack.

Mondilla’s victory also made him the first Del Monte player to win the national crown after Frankie Miñoza clinched his second RP amateur title in 1979.

The lopsided win should also net Mondilla a berth in the national team set to compete in three major events this year, including the Putra Cup., the World Amateurs and the Asian Games in November.

“I just kept in mind my father’s advice to hang on whoever I am paired with,” said Mondilla in Filipino, referring to his father Ondoy, who lost to top seed Mhark Fernando in the first round of the knockout phase.

But the younger Mondilla avenged his father’s setback as he upended Fernando in the quarterfinals before subduing fellow local bet Julius Bautista to arrange a title showdown with Tabuena in the event conducted by the National GolfAssociation of the Phils. and sponsored by Samsung, Titleist, Mizuno, Crestlink, A Round of Golf, Wow Magic Sing, Inquirer Golf Monthly and BCLN.

Sharing the spotlight was Cebu’s Irina Gabasa, who showed tremendous staying power and poise to outlast Thailand’s Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, 1-up, after 36 holes of their grueling duel for the ladies crown.

Nonoy Dulfo, on the other hand, put one over perennial seniors champion Iggy Clavecilla, scoring a 4&3 victory in their 18-hole showdown.