Quintanilla wavers, recovers to win in five-hole playoff vs Wang
MANILA, Philippines — Grace Pauline Quintanilla squandered a six-stroke lead in regulation but pulled through in a nerve-wracking five-hole playoff to repel Chinese Xizihan Wang and capture the women's individual crown in the 78th Singapore Open Amateur Championships at the Singapore Island Golf and Country Club's Bukit course on Friday.
The former Philippine Ladies Open champion birdied the par-5 18th on their sixth return for the day, calmly and confidently sinking a 15-foot putt to finally claim the hard-earned victory.
Bracing for a cruise after storming to six-shot lead after 54 holes, the 19-year-old Filipina instead went through a grindout finish after limping with a final round 73 against Wang's blistering 67 that forced a playoff at 281.
"She overshot her approach (on the fifth playoff hole)," Quintanilla said of Wang. "I knew then that I had to somewhat get it (my approach shot) close, even though I was coming off the rough."
She did and saved what could've been a disastrous ending to a campaign that started with a lot of promise.
Quintanilla's thrilling win thus saved the week for the Philippines after Rolando Bregente and Jet Hernandez settled for joint fourth in the men's side.
Playing in the penultimate group, Hernandez ignited his title bid with four birdies against a bogey for a front-nine 32, trimming the deficit to just one stroke. But Jonty Lunson responded like a champion, birdieing Nos. 8 and 9 from the final group to match Hernandez's outward 32 and restore a three-shot cushion at the turn.
With the lead back to three, Lunson cruised home virtually unchallenged. Hernandez's hopes faded after a costly double bogey on No. 10 followed by another bogey on the 11th.
Lunson closed with a 67 for a 17-under-par 267 total, finishing one stroke ahead of fellow Australuan Harrison Gomez, who charged back with a 64 for 268.
Bregente, the first-round leader, and Hernandez settled for joint fourth at 272 after identical 69s, behind solo third placer Marcus Lam of China, who matched par 61 for 271.
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