Miñoza fades, ties Japanese at 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza lost steam in the final round and settled for a one-under 71 for joint second with two others in the Handa Cup Senior Masters ruled by Japanese Masahiro Kuramoto, who rallied with a 65 to win by four shots in Japan.

Miñoza, in top form since earning a full-exempt spot in next year’s Champions Tour in the US last week, shared the lead in the second and third rounds but fumbled with a bogey mishap on the first hole in the final day at the Ohmurasaki Golf Club.

He birdied No. 7 but missed one on No. 10 which he birdied in the first three days and dropped a stroke on No. 12 then needed to birdie the 18th to salvage a share of second at 275.

Kuramoto, two behind Miñoza and Satoshi Higashi at the start of the final round, pressed his bid with back-to-back birdies from No. 4, reeled back with a bogey on the sixth but rattled off three straight to close out the front side at 32.

He birdied Nos. 12 and 14, dropped another stroke on the 16th but closed out with another birdie-birdie binge to fire a 65 and ran away with the four-stroke victory at 271.

Higashi also wound up with a 71 while Kiyoshi Murota shot a 69 to share second place with the Filipino shotmaker.

Miñoza fired back-to-back bogey-free rounds from the second day, a 66 and 68 in a performance that drew praises from playing partner Andrew Oldcorn.

“Frankie was imperious out there,” he said. “That was the easiest 68 you’ll probably ever see. He’s a cool dude who just gets on with it – a great guy to play with. With his distance the course is an easy 68 or 69 for him,” said Oldcorn.

But Miñoza failed to sustain his charge and sputtered when it mattered most although the runner-up finish proved good enough for the 51-year-old Filipino priming up for his third crack at the Philippine Open crown three weeks from now at Valley Golf Club in Antipolo.