In-form Clyde Mondilla made his move in the backnine with three birdies in the first four holes and finished with five straight pars to win the ICTSI Philippine Masters yesterday at the Villamor Golf Club.
Mondilla, 24, closed out with a two-under par 70 to beat Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa and American Nicolas Paez by one shot at six-under par 282.
“I just played it safe at the front and when I learned that I was near the leaders, I made my move,” said Mondilla who started the day four shots behind overnight leader Joenard Rates.
It was Mondilla’s second straight win, coming off a come-from-behind victory in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods.
He earned P360,000.
Mondilla, who mixed two birdies with three bogeys in the frontnine, drove the 318-yard, par-4 No. 10 to set up a two-putt birdie.
He made a five-footer for another birdie on the par-5 11th hole and dropped a four-footer to reach two-under after 13 holes.
Lascuña blew his chances with bogeys on the 15th and 17th holes to wind up with a 73.
Ababa turned in a 70 while Paez matched par to tie Lascuña for second place. Each received P168,333.
First day leader Jobim Carlos made a 70 for joint fifth with Zanie Boy Gialon (73) and Nathan Park of Australia (71) at 284. Each got P78,000.
Jerson Balasabas turned in a second 71 and wound up ninth at 286 while Jahns dropped four shots in the last two holes for a 77 and 287.
Rates never recovered from a 42 start, ending up with an 80 to tumble to joint 10th at 288 with Mhark Fernando, who fought back with a 69.
The event was organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.
