Wang in easy win; Guioguio prevails

MANILA, Philippines - One year after he blew it via disqualification, Wang Jeung Hun captured the WWWExpress-DHL National Golf Championships crown in emphatic fashion, winning by four shots over Clyde Mondilla with a six-under 66 at Cangolf’s north course yesterday.

Wang closed out the way he started the 72-hole event – on a bogey-free stint – underscoring his top form and seriousness to win the crown he lost to Jhonnel Ababa last year due to infraction.

This time, he played a near-flawless game all week, making just three bogeys over four days when all the others kept on dropping shots on a course that played a little bit friendly in the absence of the wind.

He wound up with an impressive 18-under 270 total, from a pair of 66s and 69s, completing his mastery of the field and the layout where he also reigned as the Canlubang Am Open champion late last year.

Mondilla also shot a 66, a solid round he spiked with an eagle on the par-5 14th. Four shots behind Wang at the start of the final round, the reigning national champion dropped a shot farther back at the turn but strung up three straight birdies from No. 10 to move within two.

But Wang hung on while Mondilla failed to sustain his fightback and bogeyed No. 13. He closed to within two again after that eagle on the next hole which Wang birdied, but the Filipino challenger stumbled with another bogey on the par-3 15th to fall behind by three again.

Wang then birdied the next two to pull away for good with Mondilla holing out with a birdie for his own version of a 66 and a 274.

Lovelynn Guioguio bogeyed the last two holes for a 73 but still pulled off a two-stroke victory over Andie Unson in the ladies side of the tournament sponsored by WWWExpress and DHL headed by chair Rod Feliciano and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Guioguio assembled a 216 over 54 holes, holding off ICTSI teammate Unson, who fell short of her bid to add the title to her The Country Club low amateur plum two weeks ago. Unson shot a 71 and finished with a 218.

Chihiro Ikeda, winner of the last three editions of the event hosted by Cangolf, failed to get her game going and struggled to finish third at 219 after a 75.

Sarah Ababa ballooned to a 77 and tumbled down to fourth at 221 while Jayvie Agojo placed fifth with a 222 after a 72.

Reigning national champion Irina Gabasa wound up sixth with a 223 after a 72 followed by Kim Bo Ah, who skied to a 78 and a 226, and Daniela Uy and Dottie Ardina, who both had a 228 after a 75 and 77, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Phl squad of Miguel Tabuena, Jerson Balabas and Jobim Carlos pooled a 214 and won the third RVF Southeast Asian Cup men’s team crown with a 420, beating the Wang-led Korea, which had a 422 after a 219 while Singapore placed third with a 436 after a 225.

Jobim Carlos, whom Wang beat to claim the Cangolf Am plum, rallied with a 68 and salvaged third place with a 280 while Zanieboy Gialon matched par 72 and settled for fourth at 282.

Gregory Foo shot a 69 to snatch fifth place at 285 while Dino Villanueva and Jerson Balasabas finished tied for sixth at 286 after a pair of 71s.