LUISITA--Michele Ortolani held on with steely resolve in the closing holes on Saturday and snapped a long international dry spell by ruling the $100,000 BingoPlus Philippine ADT Open by a shot over a hard-charging Su Ching-Hung at majestic Luisita.
The 29-year-old Italian drained the marginal birdie on the par-5 16th that highlighted a three-under-par 69 for a 272 total, 16-under over the tree-lined layout that gave the talented field all sorts of challenges this week, even as Sean Ramos and Angelo Que finished as the best among 46 Filipinos.
"I'm still a little bit speechless. I'm still in the process (of absorbing) that my name is on top (of the leaderboard)," Ortolani, who started the day a shot behind overnight leader Galven Green of Malaysia, said.
"It's been 10 years since I won internationally...so this is obviously an unforgettable week for me."
Otolani made the turn at level before draining all three of his back nine birdies in his next seven holes, capped by that beauty on 16 for the needed buffer as Su picked up shots on the 15th and 16th in a flight ahead. The Taiwanese carved out a 68 for 273, one shot ahead of a Green and Scorzato, who returned a 69 and 72, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ramos closed out with a 71 to be in a fifth-place tie with Suttinon Panyo of Thailand and opening-round leader Thomas Plumb at 277. The 22-year-old Ramos thus earned a slot to the $2 million (around P120 million) International Series Philippine Open at the Masters of Manila Southwoods this November.
"I felt confident at the start and just got cold again in the middle (of the round)," Ramos, who moved within a shot of the lead after his fourth birdie coming on the 12th, said. "I was really having trouble making putts since Day 1. But I am still happy with the way I played."
And since the 47-year-old Que, who finished a stroke behind after a second straight 69, has already locked an IS Open slot, another ex-Philippine Open champion in Clyde Mondilla won the second berth staked for Filipinos at Luisita after closing with a 68 for 280.
"I was already driving home when I learned of it," the long-hitting Mondilla from Bukidnon said.
Green, who shot a 64 to grab a one-shot lead after 54 holes on Friday, submitted a level 72, while Panyo shot a 68 and caught Ramos at 11-under.
The PH Open will be held at the world-class layout in Carmona for the second straight year, with a Frenchman, Julien Sale, as defending champion.
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