Dumandan cops ICTSI John Hay title

BAGUIO, Philippines  – Marvin Dumandan gyrated twice before pulling off his visor and raising it in acknowledgement of the cheers that came his way for ruling the P1 million ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship with a closing four-under 64 yesterday.

The Davaoeño shotmaker is on a high after beating Carl Santos-Ocampo, who came out hot with a course record 59 Thursday but suddenly went cold with a 69 in the last day, by three strokes with a 189 total, ending a harrowing 17-month drought on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“I didn’t win in the tour in 2011 so it’s been quite a while,” said Dumandan, who last hoisted the trophy at Mimosa in November 2010. He now owns four titles on the circuit and looks forward to contending for a fifth at Sherwood Hills over in Cavite next week.

“This should boost my confidence on my game as we head to Sherwood,” he said.

The 32-year-old Dumandan, who shot a hot 64 on opening day and an even hotter 61 the next day to keep within striking distance of Santos-Ocampo (69-192), struck hard just as the second round leader and first stage pacesetter Joenard Rates (67-195) sputtered in windy condition and on the relatively faster greens of John Hay.

Dumandan fired a bogey-less four-under at the front nine, starting his round with a birdie from close range to set the tone. He followed it up with a long birdie from about one and a half pin at the fourth and made more birdies at sixth (one pin) and ninth (half putter).

With that, he had overtaken the Fil-Am bet and seized a two-stroke lead heading to the last nine holes. Santos-Ocampo, a tour sophomore, actually touched off his final round with an eagle at No. 1 but got stalled when his putting that served him well the previous day turned sour, leading to bogeys at second and fifth.

A double bogey at 12th all but doomed Santos-Ocampo’s bid for the crown in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“It was the same approach all tournament long – enjoy the game, be patient, make the fairways and reach the green. My putting just clicked today,” said Dumandan, who netted P200,000 for this triumph.

The 24-year-old Santos-Ocampo admitted to somehow feeling the pressure a day after setting a course-record 59 and playing in the championship flight and preferred to look at it as a learning experience.

“I’m going to take a lot of positive out of this experience,” said Santos-Ocampo, who settled for P120,000. “Playing in the championship flight is definitely different compared to just playing a normal round of golf. But this is only my second year as a pro and I’ve had a couple of opportunities to contend. It can only get better.”

 Rates started at five-over through five holes, making a double-bogey at par-4 No. 2 and a bogey at No. 5. 

Ferdie Aunzo (64, 197) wound up fifth in the event backed by Srixon, Callaway, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Rounding up the Top 10 were Randy Garalde (63, 199), Elmer Sablan (64, 200), Jerson Balasabas (68, 200), Roel Banares (67, 202), and Terrence Macatangay (72, 202).