Foo saves 2-shot win in Phl Am

CANLUBANG, Philippines – Gregory Foo squandered a six-shot lead as he floundered in the rain but held his ground in a nerve-wracking backside duel to thwart Jobim Carlos and Clyde Mondilla and capture the Philippine Amateur Open golf crown despite a closing seven-over 79 at Cangolf’s north course yesterday.

Foo, who looked headed for a runaway win after storming ahead by six after 54 holes, found the going tough early as rains pounded the par-72 layout, sending the Singapore ace tumbling down with a 40 at the turn and sending the title race into a three-man affair.

But Mondilla, who tied Foo despite a bogey at the par-3 No. 11, blew his bid with a triple-bogey on No. 13 while Carlos, who moved within two with nine holes to play, reeled back with back-to-back bogeys from No. 12 and flubbed two birdie putts in the last three holes.

In contrast, Foo rebounded from a disastrous double-bogey mishap on No. 11 and a bogey on No. 14 with clutch par putts in the last four holes, netting him the crown with a 287 aggregate in the tournament presented by Globe Telecom, Inc., Pancake House and Airphil Express.

“I struggled all day since I’m not used to playing in the rain,” rued Foo.

Carlos and Mondilla pounced on Foo’s shaky start to revive the local bets’ bid with the former, winner of the NGAP National Doubles crown last week, turning in a gutsy 36 and the latter hitting birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 for a 35.

But the duo sputtered in the end with Carlos, who birdied the par-5 17th, flubbing two makeable birdie putts on Nos. 16 and 18, for a 75 and a 289.

Mondilla sparked hopes of a big finish when he caught up with Foo after No. 11. But the former national champion dropped a stroke on the next and failed to check his skid with a seven on No. 13. He closed out with a 76 for third at 290.

In ladies play, top ICTSI bet Lovelyn Guioguio birdied the first two holes and went on to fire a one-under 71 then watched erstwhile leader Sarah Ababa and chief rival Dottie Ardina slip with an 81 and 84, respectively, to run away with the crown.

Guioguio dished out a superb game in tough playing conditions that bedeviled the games of Ababa and Ardina to finish the 54-hole event with a 219 for a six-shot romp over last year’s champion Andie Unson, who matched par 72 for a 225.

Princess Superal carded a 75 and wound up third at 226 while Sunshine Baraquiel placed fourth with a 227 after a 74. Ababa tumbled down to fifth with a 228 while Ardina finished way down in seventh at 234 next to Jayvie Agojo, who had a 233 after an 82.

Clare Legaspi had an 80 for a 236 while Anne Sabater made a 75 to tie Juily Vasandarni, who had a 79, at 238.