Mondilla tops TPC, wins OOM title

LIPA CITY – Power-hitting Clyde Mondilla crowned himself the new ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion in style, sweeping the last two legs of the circuit, including the

₱3 million The Players Championship at the Summit Point Golf Club yesterday here.

But in one stretch, Jerson Balasabas looked all set to spoil Mondilla’s coronation as he charged back from six strokes down in a flight ahead with a scorching eagle-spiked start to draw level after six holes.

But the Del Monte ace came through with his own eagle-aided finish capped by four birdies in the last five holes to beat Balasabas by three.

Mondilla closed out the way he opened his title drive in this final PGT leg – with a five-under 67 for a winning 17-under 271. Two weeks after pocketing $17,500 for topping the ICTSI Riviera Classic of the PGT Asia Tour, he banked another ₱550,000 which he received from the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. executive director Narlene Soriano during awards rites.

“I’m so happy, this is a sweet victory and I couldn’t ask for more,” said Mondilla, who also won back-to-back at Manila Southwoods and Villamor last May to complete a four-leg romp in the ninth season of the country’s premier circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

Balasabas complemented his hot 31 start with a solid finish, a bogey-free backside 33 for a tournament-best eight-under 64 but could only settle for second at 274 worth ₱370,000 as Mondilla recovered his touch – off the mound, on the fairway and on the greens – to hold off his rival, clinch the crown and formalize his claim on his first OOM title.