Luis Castro survived a shaky windup and took the men’s crown by two over Tom Kim despite a 76 while Sofia Legaspi foiled Kayla Nocum in sudden death to snare the ladies title in the 2017 Riviera MVPSF Amateur Championship at Riviera Golf Club’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite yesterday.
Castro went 8-up after 11 holes at resumption of the 54-hole championship but made five bogeys against one birdie in the last seven holes and barely clinched the victory on a 38-38 card and a 217 total.
Kim ran out of holes in his comeback bid and settled for second at 219 after a pair of 37s while Aidric Chan wound up third with a 225 after a 77 in a day of soaring scores.
Sharing top honors in the event serving as part of the PLDT Group’s National Amateur Golf Tour were Takuya Kawamura and Eddie Bagtas.
Kawamura shot an 80 for a 160 and beat Michael Mendoza, who carded a 79 for a 162, for the Mid-Amateur crown, while Bagtas ran away with the seniors plum with a 151 after a 78, seven ahead of Alan Alegre, who made a 79 for a 158.
Jing Romero placed third in the Mid-Am with a 165 after an 88 while erstwhile co-leader Howie Sison fumbled with a 90 and dropped to fourth at 167. Bobby Celestino finished third in the seniors with an 82 as he lost in the countback to Alegre for a 158.
Sean Ramos ended up fourth in the men’s side with a 233 after an 81 while Don Petil finished with a 236 after an 83 for fifth followed by GJ Katigbak (80-239), Korean Back Seung Hyeon (79-241), Paolo Wong (82-242), Carlo Villaroman (80-244) and Riggs Illescas (79-246).
Kristine Torralba wound up fourth in ladies play with a 246 after an 80 while Korean Kang Da Yun made an 84 for a 248 for fifth followed by Kim Hui Won (83-249), isabela Tee (82-251), Jang Yun Ji (95-267), Marianne Bustos (92-271) and Kim Seo Young (90-275).