David Gleeson tremendous rally nets Luisita title

TARLAC, Philippines — Aussie David Gleeson ended a long title spell, winning over Filipino Erwin Arcillas on the third playoff hole after a tremendous fightback from four down in the last four holes in regulation to snare the ICTSI Luisita Championship crown at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

On the verge of extending a fruitless campaign in various fronts the last seven years, Gleeson toughened himself up in a pressure-packed duel of 40-year-olds and birdied the difficult No. 15 then watched Arcillas crack in mounting pressure and bogeyed the 17th to force a playoff at 11-under 277.

He closed out with a 72 while Arcillas made a 71.

Both birdied the first playoff hole then parred the next, both the par-4 18th, with Gleeson, battling it through the searing heat for the fourth straight day, failing to cash in on his solid drives and Arcillas recovering from a pair of wayward shots to extend the match to a third extra hole, also on No. 18.

But the Brisbane native made sure to wrap it all up the third time around.

After splitting the fairway again, Gleeson knocked it down to within 12 feet and buried the putt, snatching the victory and the top $17,500 purse from the clutches of Arcillas, who drove into the rough and missed the green.

“It was tough but I know I can handle it. I’m prepared for a long game,” said Gleeson, who also needed to buck difficult pin placements, the hot weather and a tough Arcillas to hack out the victory, his first since ruling the 2011 Indian Open.

“I just focused on my game, played smart and grabbed every opportunity,” he added.

That included a two-stroke penalty slapped on Arcillas, who forgot his wedge on the putting green of No. 1. He told his caddie to go back but the latter rode a golf cart, which was not allowed. Arcillas birdied the short par-3 No. 2 but wound up with a bogey due to the penalty.