Miñoza cops title in playoff with Bayron brothers

CANLUBANG, Laguna , Philippines  â€“ Like wine, Frankie Miñoza gets better with age.

The two-time Philippine Open champion and for a long time considered as the face of local pro golf survived a harrowing birdie-less final round 78 and a riveting sudden death showdown with brothers Rufino and Jay Bayron, ramming in a five-foot uphill par-putt on the second playoff hole to capture The Country Club Invitational crown at the TCC course here yesterday.

In a wild, wooly finale, it boiled down to one putt and fittingly it came from Miñoza, who buried the clincher as Rufino Bayron cracked and misread a downhiller from four feet, ending a decade of fruitless campaign on the country’s premier championship, including a heartbreaking playoff loss to Juvic Pagunsan in the 2008 edition of the event held in honor of ICTSI founder Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr.

Miñoza, who led by four after three rounds, and Rufino Bayron, who carded a 74, earlier parred the tough par-4 18th in the first sudden death hole to extend the duel while leaving Jay Bayron, who rallied with a 71, out of the playoff with a bogey mishap. The troika wound up with 283s.

“It’s a dream come true for me, being 53 years old and winning against younger competitors,” said Miñoza, who finally put it all together on the second playoff after falling apart in another challenging day at TCC.

The victory, worth P1.5 million out of the total purse of P5 million, also averted a reversal of sort of his last local victory at Wack Wack when he rallied from seven strokes down in the final round to capture the ICTSI Championship, also against Rufino Bayron and Elmer Saban.

Miñoza’s last win came in the Japan Seniors Open last Oct. 2012.

Jay Bayron, the reigning Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion, rallied from seven shots down and gained a crack at the crown by closing out with three pars in a flight ahead of Miñoza and Rufino Bayron, who both made bogeys on the tough finishing hole that paved the way for a three-way tie at 283.

“After 10 years of trying, I’m proud to award this trophy to a golfer who is actually older than me,” said ICTSI top honcho Enrique Razon Jr. during awards rites of the event which also served as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

While Miñoza basked in glory, Rufino Bayron didn’t hide his disappointment for blowing his chance for a breakthrough victory.

“Tough luck, I was this close of winning my first ever tournament as a pro,” rued Rufino Bayron while holding daughters Jayvee, five, and Jazzee, one and a half years old.

Jay Bayron, meanwhile, said he was just too happy to have gained a chance for the crown.

“I wasn’t expecting to catch up but when I did, I was just relieved. It’s a bad thing though that I blew my chance,” he said,

The Bayrons took home P565,000.

Dottie Ardina also struggled with a 78 but ran away with the low amateur honors at 294 for joint 16th overall with Jhonnel Ababa and Randy Garalde, who both had 76s.

As Miñoza stumbled, defending champion Pagunsan came charging back from seven strokes down with a run of pars and a birdie to tie Miñoza at No. 13, sparking hopes of his repeat feat in 2008 when he nipped Miñoza in a playoff to win his second TCC crown.

But he faded just as quickly with back-to-back bogeys from No. 15, finishing with a 72 and with fellow three-time winner Angelo Que, missed the playoff by one at 284.

Que, the joint leader in the first two rounds but fell by nine heading to the final round, also threatened with a 33 at the front but reeled back like Pagunsan with a sputtering finish of 37 and a 70.

Pagunsan and Que received P275,000 apiece.

Elmer Salvador also matched par 70 to wind up solo sixth at 287 while Ferdie Aunzo, Carl Santos-Ocampo and Cassius Casas shared seventh with 288s after 71, 75 and 76, respectively.

Tony Lascuña, who dominated the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour last year, carded a 73 for joint 10th with Clyde Mondilla, who skied to a 77, while Miguel Tabuena, who shared the lead with Que after 36 holes, finished with a second 76 for a 290.