MANILA, Philippines — Former jungolf champion John Catalan carded a final round of five-over-par 77 to finish second overall in Division 1 of the World Amateur Golfers Invitational (WAGI) category of the World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) over the weekend in Phuket, Thailand.
Catalan put together a four-day total of 293, just a stroke behind Finland’s Klmmo Hyvarinen, who finished with 292. Mariusz Czerkawski of Poland placed third overall at 296.
Catalan matched the 2017 first runner-up finish of Tonito Payumo in Division 1 of WAGC. However, he came short of becoming the second Filipino to win the WAGC, which Payumo did in 2017.
“Masarap sa pakiramdam knowing that you represented the country well. It was bitter sweet, however, because I came up short of winning the championship,” said Catalan.