Mondilla bags crown

CARMONA, Cavite — Clyde Mondilla held his nerve against two of the country’s hottest players to win the $60,000 ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship yesterday.

Mondilla, 24, torched the backnine at three-under for a 66 and completed a one-shot win over overnight leader Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuna. He had a four-day aggregate of 22-under 266.

“I’m so happy to beat our top two players but I learned a lot from them,” said Mondilla who pocketed $10,500 (about 1525,000).

Tabuena and Lascuna closed out with a 70 and a 67, respectively to share the combined $11,100 purse.

Both players had a chance to force a playoff, but missed birdie putts inside nine feet on the 18th hole.

Trailing most of the way, Mondilla seized a one-shot lead with a birdie on No. 12 and went 2-up on Tabuena following back-to-back birdies from the 14th hole.

After a monster drive on the par-4, Mondilla nearly eagled the hole from 40 yards.

“I knew then that I could beat them with my power but it also helped that both of them missed a couple of birdie putts in the closing holes,” added Mondilla who had three victories last year.

Long-hitting Orlan Sumcad rallied with a 65 to snatch fourth place at 270 while Elmer Salvador placed fifth at 271 after 68 followed by Zanieboy Gialon, who fired a 67, for a 272, and Mhark Fernando and Macedonian Peter Stojanovski carded identical 70s to share seventh place at 273.

American Nicolas Paez and Justin Quiban finished tied at ninth with 274s after a 70 and 66, respectively, in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by backed by ICTSI, BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.