Lam scores breakthrough, dominates CAT Open
the World Series, like this year’s Red JAMES RYAN LAM and ended a nine-year quest for a champion-
claim the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open crown at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac on Friday.
Lam outduelled erstwhile co-leaders Jobim clutch pars on Luisita’s tricky surface, turning what
triumph in the sixth leg of the second season of Philippine Golf Tour Asia put up by ICTSI.
“I tried to take control of my game and Asia but worked on his game and turned in a
placed sixth at Aboitiz last month.
He stood at joint 10th after an opening 70, gained a share of sixth with a 69 Wednesday,
with a brilliant 67 Thursday for a 72-hole total of 14-under 274 worth $17,500.
“At last I won. This is great and I couldn’t
- maker, who toiled for nine years on the local circuit marked by four runner- up finishes, including one to American Nicolas Paez at PGT Del Monte last June. runner-up honors at 278 worth $11,500 while Jhonnel Ababa and Ira Alido rallied with a pair of 68s to tie Carlos, who wobbled with a 73, at
said Carlos, this year’s PGT Order of Merit winner, 65, blew it all at the back with three bogeys,
The Dodgers team of 1955, then still representing Brooklyn, was actu- last year’s champion Justin Quiban, who rallied with a 67, Charles Hong, who shot a 68, and Seung Jae Mae of the US, who carded a 70. Each took home $2,925.
American Tarik Can scored a second straight 70
stumbled at the back with a 39 for a 74, slipping to 11th place at 283 with Thai Wisut Artjanawat (72), Keanu Jahns (72) and Michael Bibat (73).
birdie-less 79, including three bogeys in the
with American Andy Kang (68), Jerson Balasabas (71) and Joenard Rates (77), one stroke behind the troika of Dutch Guido Van der Valk (70), Thai Nirun Sae-ueng (73) and Aussie Tim Stewart (73), who all pooled a 284.
It was indeed a surprising ending to what Rates lurked another shot back and a host of others lay within striking distance.
But Lam turned on the heat with a solid with three bogeys in the same stretch.
strokes behind despite an eagle on No. 16. -
start, two behind Lam, and Ababa and Mondilla also stayed within striking distance with 34 and 35 cards.
But as the pressure mounted at the back, Lam stayed in control with a birdie-bogey-birdie
par on the challenging No. 17 then birdied the last for the second straight day to high-
by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K& G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.
on the road and bouncing to emerge James Ryan Lam snaps a long title quest with a big CAT Open triumph.