TARLAC – James Ryan Lam started out with a flourish and ended a nine-year quest for a championship with a resounding four-stroke victory over American Josh Salah on a closing 68 to claim the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open crown at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.
Lam outduelled erstwhile co-leaders Jobim Carlos and Aussie Jack Sullivan with two birdies in the first five holes then fended off the charge of a slew of rivals that kept rushing at the back with clutch pars on Luisita’s tricky surface, turning what was expected to be a tight finish into a runaway 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 avoid getting into trouble. That was my game plan and it paid off,” said Lam, who missed the cut in the first three legs of this year’s PGT Asia but worked on his game and turned in a fifth place finish at Forest Hills last July then placed sixth at Aboitiz last month.
He stood at joint 10th after an opening 70, gained a share of sixth with a 69 Wednesday, then joined Carlos and Sullivan at the helm 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 ask for more,” said the 30-year-old shotmaker, 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.
He anchored his final round romp on exceptional putting, saving pars 10 times, including four straight from No. 14 that secured his long-cherished victory, and finishing with tournament-best 21 putts.
