Guce claims 2nd crown by two in Symetra Tour

MANILA, Philippines - In-form Clariss Guce picked up another Symetra Tour win, closing out with a one-under 71 to beat Belgian Laura Escallon and American Jackie Stoelting by two for the Decatur-Forsyth Classic crown at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Illinois Sunday.

The 26-year-old Filipina shotmaker hit a clutch birdie on No. 14 then parred the last four to complete a 35-36 card for a 10-under 206 total and fend off Escallon, who rallied from six down with a late burst of birdies, four in the last six, for a 67 and Stoelting, who carded a 70, for identical 208s.

Thai Wichanee Meechai, winner of a leg on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, also fought back with a 67 to salvage joint fourth with Americans Becca Huffer (70), Nelly Korda (71) and Erica Popson (72) at 209.

“Anytime you win, it feels great,” said Guce, who moved to the US with her family from the Philippines in 2001. “Every win is special and I’m just overjoyed.”

The daughter of a former top Filipino jockey, who now campaigns in the US, scored a breakthrough at the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in New York last month and sustained her form to pocket another win worth $19,500, raising her earnings to $56,656.

From No. 84 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in mid-July, Guce now barged into the top 10 for the first time this season. She is now number seven with exactly seven events remaining on the Symetra Tour. 

Guce, who came into the final round of the 54-hole, $130,000 tournament with a two-shot lead over Popson, made eight pars and a birdie on the front nine to pad her lead to three at the turn. But she fumbled with a bogey on the 12th, enabling Escallon to pull within one with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to finish at five-under for the day and eight-under overall.

But Guce hit a superb approach shot on the par-5 14th and drilled in a seven-footer to regain a two-stroke lead. She then made par the rest of the way to cruise to victory.