Murakami rallies for 68, 2-shot win

ANTIPOLO, Philippines  - Artemio Murakami capped his comeback from the back of the pack to the top of the heap, closing out with a bogey-free 68 and capturing the Philippine Open crown with a two-stroke victory over last year’s winner Elmer Salvador at the Valley Golf Club course here yesterday.

Murakami sustained the form that netted him a seven-under 65 Friday and pulled him within one off Salvador and amateur Miguel Tabuena as he outgunned the erstwhile joint leaders with four birdies in the first 10 holes before hanging tough with clutch pars to clinch the championship.

He wound up with an 11-under 277 and won P350,000, lower than the P448,500 bounty he pocketed in winning the Mercedes-Benz Tour leg at Manila Southwoods early in the year but higher in terms of prestige and honor.

“It’s all about focus,” said Murakami, out of the title picture with a forgettable 74 start but put himself in contention with that stirring 65 in the third round. “I guess it was my focus in the final two days that did it for me.”

Luck also played a role in his title win as three of his drives bounced back onto the fairway after hitting the trees. “I guess I got a bit lucky, too,” he said.

The same could not be said of Salvador, who celebrates his 42nd birthday today. While he was able to hold off the rallying Murakami with a gutsy 70 Friday and a birdie on No. 2 in the final round, he reeled back in the face of his rival’s sustained charge.

Salvador needed to birdie the par-3 18th from 12 feet to salvage a 71 and claim solo second with a 279 worth P224,400.

Two-time champion Frankie Miñoza, whom Murakami looks up to as idol and mentor, shot a 70 for solo third at 280 worth P125,000.

“I’m happy with my effort,” said Miñoza, who is set to join the US Seniors Champions Tour next year.

Murakami, who regained his Asian Tour card by topping the Qualifying School last January but has struggled on the region’s lucrative circuit all season long, calmly made a three-foot par putt on the 18th then raised his hands – the left holding his trusted putter and the right his black visor – in triumph before a big appreciative crowd that included Miñoza, who has seen his ward blossom from a mediocre golfer into a seasoned player.

“It’s a good feeling to finally win it,” said Murakami, who birdied Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 10 to wrest control of the big number of title contenders.

Murakami’s win also foiled Salvador’s bid to become the Open’s first back-to-back winner since the late Celestino Tugot won four straight from 1955.

“I tried my best to win it again this year but he (Murakami) really played well,” said the soft-spoken Salvador, who fell short of his bid to give himself another big birthday present tthe way he did last year when he topped last year’s Open at Mt. Malarayat. Tabuena, who humbled the pros with a 67 in the third round to tie Salvador at the helm, cracked with a 73 and settled for fourth overall with a 281, still a big feat for a 16-year-old wonder who won the silver medal in the recent Asian Games.

Tabuena also bungled his chance to become the Open’s first amateur champion.