DAVAO CITY – Clyde Mondilla weathered a blistering charge from a slew of pursuers and made clutch shot after clutch shot under pressure to capture the ICTSI South Pacific Classic crown on Friday at the South Pacific Golf Club.
With his lead under siege and the leaderboard in constant flux, the Del Monte native had a near-ace on No. 15 and a clutch birdie putt from long range on the 17th to move two shots clear of Sean Ramos with one hole to play.
He could even afford to miss a four-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, drawing gasps from the gallery, and still emerge with a two-stroke victory.
Ramos mounts challenge
Mondilla closed with a two-under 70 for an 18-under 270 total, holding off Ramos, who mounted a determined comeback before wavering late with a 69 for 272. Angelo Que and Keanu Jahns also kept the pressure on the leader until the closing holes.
“Sean was gaining strokes on me, so the pressure was really intense. But after No. 10, I settled down, regained my momentum and started sinking my putts,” said Mondilla in Filipino after pocketing the top purse of P448,750.
Jahns produced the day’s most explosive charge, firing a nine-under 63 to threaten the leaders despite starting the final round 10 shots off the pace. Playing under preferred lies, he came within inches of another birdie on the 18th, settling for a 32-31 finish and a 273 total that tied Lee Song, who closed with an even-par 72, for third.
Que also mounted a serious challenge, moving within one shot of the lead after an eagle-spiked six-under effort through 17 holes. But a three-putt bogey on the last left him with a 67 and a 274 total for fifth.
Elee Bisera fired a 68 to share sixth place at 278 with Russell Bautista, who carded a 71. Jeffren Lumbo also shot 68 to tie for eighth at 279 with Ira Alido and Gab Manotoc, who finished with 69 and 73, respectively.
That next challenge comes at the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic, which gets under way on Tuesday at the nearby Apo Golf and Country Club.
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