CANLUBANG, LAGUNA – Steve Lewton became the first Englishman to win the Philippine Open when he defeated American Johannes Veerman in the first extra hole yesterday at The Country Club.
Lewton, 33, hit a bunker shot at the par-4, 18th hole and sank the 12-footer to save par.
“It’s very good,” said Lewton, who captured his second career title after ruling the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2014. “I was happy in the fact that I had exactly the same putt at regulation, but a bit closer.”
Veerman, who tied Lewton in regulation at one-under 287 after a 73, chipped off the green to within six feet, but missed extending the playoff.
Lewton pocketed $72,000 of the $400,000 put up by Solaire Resort and Casino.
Lewton, who led the first three rounds at three-under, had two bogeys in the last three holes to finish the final round at 75.
“It was a pretty difficult golf course, it changed a lot,” said Lewton who played here two years ago. “It’s good to come back and play well. It was a struggle toward the end. It was a struggle all day. The wind wasn’t strong through the first six, seven holes.”
“It was up and down… it was more down and up… and it was up and up. The pin placement was very difficult today. The wind was blowing at 30 miles an hour. It was difficult,” added Lewton.
Not a single player broke par in the final round and only five matched par, underscoring the US Open-like conditions of the course.
Thai Wannasrichan Rattanon closed out with a 73 to place third at even-par 288 while American Blake Snyder finished even to take fourth at 3-over 291.
Miguel Tabuena, last year’s winner, was the best-placed Filipino at joint fifth with American Brett Munson, Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach and Thai Yongcharoenchai Suradit.
Tabuena was even par through 17 holes before finishing with a double bogey for 74 and four-over total.
American Nicolas Paez finished ninth at 293, followed by Japan’s Toru Nakajima at 294, and Tony Lascuna and Poom Saksansin, who shared 11th and 12th at 295.
How the other Filipinos fared:
Angelo Que 77-300, Jhonnel Ababa 75-302, Rufino Bayron 76-303, Justin Quiban 81-307, Frankie Miñoza 80-309, Elmer Salvador 75-309, Joenard Rates 81-312, Zanieboy Gialon 77-313, Gerald Rosales 83-313, and Orlan Sumcad 81-315.