Last-hole eagle nets Ababa 2nd PGTA title

LUBAO, Pampanga – Jhonnel Ababa nailed his second straight Philippine Golf Tour Asia in style, gunning down an eagle on the final hole for a 69 to frustrate Australian Andrew Campbell and capture the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic crown by two here yesterday.

Needing just a birdie on the par-5 18th of the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club to foil Campbell’s playoff bid, Ababa did the toughest thing to close out a final round – secure the victory and stake his claim as the hottest player on the region’s newest circuit put up by ICTSI.

“I was so confident. I didn’t hesitate with my second shot,” said an ecstatic Ababa, who after hitting his drive to the left side of the dog-leg 18th, blasted a 3-wood from 250 yards to within five feet for that title-clinching eagle.

“I felt I was Tiger (Woods) after I made that eagle. I felt nobody could beat me,” added Ababa, who came into the $100,000 event brimming with confidence after routing the field by seven at Eagle Ridge last week. His 69 capped another four-day run of underpar cards for a 10-under 278 worth another $17,500, earning him P1.750 million in two weeks time.

In a flight ahead, Campbell worked his way from four strokes down and shot a flawless fiveunder 67, including a birdie on the No. 18, to tie Ababa, who had a one-under card after No. 17, at eight-under 280.

But after fending off Tony Lascuña and American Josh Salah’s charges in the championship flight, Ababa knew he had a chance to crush Campbell’s bid for sudden death. He did, not just with a birdie. Unlike in his runaway triumph at Eagle Ridge, however, the Davaoeño shotmaker this time had to buck Lascuña’s early charge, Jay Bayron’s attack midway through and Campbell’s late-hole assault.

“Even before the start of the final round, I knew I could win again. Everything clicked – driving, irons, putting. Though Tony grabbed the lead in one stretch, I didn’t panic then I cashed in on his errant drive on the ninth and made a birdie for a two-shot swing,” said Ababa.