Santos-Ocampo pulls thru

DAVAO, Philippines  – Carl Santos-Ocampo rolled in a curling 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat James Ryan Lam and Randy Garalde and record his maiden victory in the P1 million ICTSI Ranchos Palos Verdes Classic at the Palos Verdes course here yesterday.

It was a big, inspiring win for Santos-Ocampo, who survived a day-long shootout with Lam and Jun Bernis with Garalde joining the fray a flight ahead with remarkable shotmaking and superb putting at the rolling layout which lay defense-less in the absence of the wind.

In the end, it was Santos-Ocampo’s will and determination that spelled the difference as he struck a 9-iron approach shot from 159 yards to about two-pin length in their third stint on the par-4 18th then watched his rivals flub their own birdie-bids from long range to clinch the victory in the most-tightly fought leg after 12 legs of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The victory, worth P200,000, thus erased the stigma of Santos-Ocampo’s final round meltdown at ICTSI John Hay Championship where he blew a big final round lead – and the title – to Marvin Dumandan last April.

Santos-Ocampo, Lam and Garalde, who wound up with 10-under 206s, all parred the first playoff hole with the Fil-Am shotmaker barely missing a 12-foot birdie try on the 54th hole.

“It just grazed the edge. It would’ve given me the outright win at 11-under,” said the 24-year-old Santos-Ocampo of his missed putt in regulation.

“On the second playoff hole, I had a 15 footer, left to right putt and it looked as if it was short but in the last roll, it went in,” added Santos-Ocampo, who joined the growing list of first-time winners on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by ICTSI. 

It was a sorry setback for Lam and Garalde with the former, tied with Santos-Ocampo after 36 holes, birdying three of the last five holes to fire a 68 and the latter birdying the 18th for the second straight day to post the first 206 with a fiery 66. They halved the combined P185,000 purse.

Bernis hit an errant drive on the tough par-4 18th, needing to play out of a stymied lie and missing joining the playoff with a 68 and a nine-under 207 in a tie with Rufino Bayron.

Bernis, the former national amateur champion, made a sizzling backside charge of four birdies in a six-hole stretch from No. 12 to force a four-way tie for the lead heading to the final hole.

Bayron also made a run of four birdies from No. 12 to reach nine-under overall but flubbed a couple of birdie putts inside 8 feet in the last three holes and fell short with a 67.

Zanie Boy Gialon, who nipped Tony Lascuña in sudden death to score a breakthrough at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, also ran out of holes in his comeback bid, finishing with an eight-under 208 after a 68.

Ramil Bisera, winner of the Samsung-Emcor Davao Pro-Am three weeks ago, made an early charge of 33 but ran out of holes despite another 33 for a 66. He settled for solo seventh at 209.

Charles Hong, who edged Richard Sinfuego in a playoff to win the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro crown last week, shot a 69 to share eighth place with Arnold Villacencio, who made a 71, at 213 while Rey Pagunsan (68), Dante Becierra (72) and Terence Macatangay (73) finished with identical 214s.

The other backers of the tournament were Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf as media partners.