Mamat coasts to victory with ‘high’ final round 69

CARMONA, Cavite – Even Mardan Mamat’s worst round proved better than the elite field could muster as he beat Frenchman Lionel Weber by six with a closing three-under 69 and completed a wire-to-wire triumph in the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters presented by 918.com at the Manila Southwoods’ Masters course here yesterday.

Mamat had more trouble battling the wind than fending off his rivals as Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who moved within three with a birdie on the first hole, reeled back with a double-bogey with a par-5 No. 4, enabling the Singaporean ace, who gunned down two birdies at the front, to all but wrap up his second crown here in three years with a six-stroke lead with nine holes left.

It was actually Mamat’s highest score after a 65, 68 and 66 but his 34-35 card, marred by two bogeys – his most in four days – proved more than enough to outclass the field and net him the top $180,000 (P7.9 million) purse on a 20-under 268 aggregate.

Most importantly, the victory assured him of another two-year exemption on the Asian Tour.

“I think it means a lot to me because this is my last year for my (Asian Tour) exception after winning here in 2012,” said Mamat, referring to his victory in the Philippine Open at Wack Wack. “I need to do well here because this is the last year of my cut. And I’m happy I got another two or three years in the Tour.

Later, he even joked about staying in the country for good.

Despite his big lead at the turn, Mamat never thought of winning the richest tournament in the country until he holed out with a routine par on the 17th.

“Walking the 18th hole, that’s the only time I felt the win. In this kind of tournament, I know anything can happen. I don’t want to make any stupid mistake so I just kept on playing. I felt comfortable after hitting my 18th hole where I felt this is mine,” he said.

Aphibarnrat went birdie-bogey-birdie-double bogey in the first four holes and was never the same from there. He bogeyed two of the last six holes for a 75 and tumbled to joint fourth at 278.

Weber hit two birdies at the back to salvage a 70 and snatch second place at 274 worth $110,000 while Thai Prom Meesawat, who rallied with a course-record 63 Saturday, rammed in an eagle and two birdies in the last four holes to fire a 68 and claim solo third at 276. He took home $63,000.

Joining Aphibarnart at fourth were Aussie Sam Brazel (69), Taiwanese Hung Chien Yao (71) and American Paul Peterson (71) with each pocketing $38,200.

Elmer Salvador emerged as the top Filipino finisher at joint 33rd with a 284 after 70 worth $7,200 while Juvic Pagunsan wound up at joint 38th at 285 and received $6,400.

Miguel Tabuena carded a 73 and shared 47th place at 288 worth $4,700 while Tony Lascuña faltered with a 74 for joint 52nd at 289 and took home $3,875.