Gibson primes up for PGT, tops Q-School

MANILA, Philippines - Rick Gibson underscored his readiness to go up against the local tour’s top guns as he closed out with a three-under 69 to dominate the 2014 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School (foreign) at the Aoki course of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite on Friday.

Saving his best for last, the Manila-based Canadian hit six birdies, including three-straight from No. 2, against three bogeys in another punishing day and emerge the low medalist and the lone player to submit an under-par total over two-under 286 over four days.

He topped the four-day elims by eight shots over Swede Malcolm Kokocinski, who had to birdie two of the last three holes to match par 72 and secure the runner-up honors at 294. Japanese Ryoma Miki carded a 74 and ended up third at 297.

Seventeen others earned Tour cards for this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, which fires off March 13 with the rich Solaire Open. The circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., will actually kick off on Feb. 5 for the annual P4.5 million The Country Club Invitational featuring the top 30 players in last year’s Order of Merit ranking.

Eric Mina of the US placed four at 300 after a 76 while Cho Phil Kyu rallied with a 70 for a 303 as he led 10 others South Koreans into this year’s bigger, richer circuit with 18 legs on tap.

Australian Mark Varela also fought back with a one-under 71 to tie Japananese Yuto Katsuragawa, who had a 77, and Swede CJ Stjarnfalt, who made an 80, at 308 while Park Gyuha pooled a 309 after a 73 for ninth and Kim Sun Woong and Kim Chang Hoi finished tied for 10th at 310 after a 72 and 79, respectively.

Others who made it to this year’s tour were Park Kyoung Chun (76) and Cho Byung Kyu (79), who both had 312s, Park JS, who finished with a 320 after a 79, Nam Ji Soo, who hobbled with an 80 for a 321, Elliot Hume of the US, who had a 323 after an 82, Mun Jae Hyung, who carded a 78 for a 324, Bong Jin Ho (78) and Tony Guerrero (79), who both had 326, and Park Jin Hyeon, who clinched the last spot at 328 after a 77.

Gibson, who made two 72s and a 73 to seize control after three rounds, used to campaign on the local circuit and the Asian Tour in the late 90s and early 2000s but has since cut down his stints. He is currently the coach of ace teener Miguel Tabuena.

The 20 foreign bets will be trying to duplicate Toru Nakajima’s breakthrough win in last year’s circuit’s final leg at Wack Wack where the Japanese, joint second placer in last year’s PGT Q-School, outlasted veteran Cassius Casas to win the crown worth P450,000.