JOBIM Carlos birdied three of the last seven holes to shoot a 68 to win the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational by four strokes on Saturday in Davao.
Carlos rode on a clutch two-shot swing on the par-4 No. 12 then birdied the par-5 No. 13 from four feet to build a three-stroke cushion he preserved with gutsy pars and another birdie on the closing par-5 hole.
Elmer Salvador kept in step with Carlos until he stumbled with that costly missed green bogey on No. 12 and Carlos came through with that key birdie from a putter’s length.
“I played good. I think this tournament is really meant for me,” said Carlos, who recorded his maiden win at PGT Asia at Riviera three weeks ago.
Carlos finished at eight-under 280 and added P550,000 to the $17,500 he won at Riviera. It is actually his third title this season, winning his first in the National Pro-am team championship with DJ Padilla last month.
Albin Engino, three shots off the leaders after 54 holes, got to three-under after No. 16 but ran out of holes to mount a serious challenge. He finished with a 69 and tied Salvador, who matched par 72, at second at 284. They each received P292,500.
“I did everything I could but it’s still not enough,” said Salvador.
Jerson Balasabas, just one down with 18 holes left to play in the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI, faded with three bogeys in the first eight holes. The Philippine Masters winner fought back with four birdies in the last six to salvage a 72, the same output put in by Keanu Jahns, for joint fourth with at 285. Each got P147,500.
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