LIPA CITY – Abe Avena closed out with his worst score in three days – a three-over 75 – but still posted a runaway 12-stroke romp over Alan Alegre while Gerald Katigbak edged Richard Salcedo by two in the 2016 Philippine Senior and Mid-Amateur Open Championship at Summit Point Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Avena made just one birdie against two late bogeys and a double bogey but his 37-38 card proved enough to cap the Mt. Malarayat shotmaker’s wire-to-wire triumph in the 54-hole championship.
He tallied a 217 after posting 70 and 72 in the first two rounds.
Alegre, who assumed the challenger’s role with a 72 in the second round, failed to sustain a par-birdie start and stumbled with three bogeys in the next seven holes before finishing with a 41 and a 79 in the event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation and held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
He ended up with a 229 for second.
Rolly Viray made a 78 for a 231 and nipped Benjie Sumulong, who skied to a 79, in the countback for third.
Katigbak bucked an opening 40 and a last-hole bogey as he salvaged a 78 for a 232 and nipped Salcedo, who fought back with a 77 for a 234, by two for the Mid-Amateur plum. Japanese Takuya Kawamura placed third with a 241 after an 84.
Rupert Zaragosa matched Avena’s romp, shooting a one-under 71 and winning the invitational Elite Amateur Open crown with a 215 for an 11-stroke victory over Jolo Magcalayo, who fumbled with a 79 for a 226.
