Strong finish nets Chan Riviera title

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Going off on a tangent in the first two rounds, Aidric Chan knew he had to hit his mark in the final 18 holes to at least gain a title crack.

He did – and the Grade 12 Ateneo student overhauled not only a huge deficit but also posted a big margin of victory in the Riviera MVPSF Amateur Championship at the wind-swept Riviera’s Langer course here yesterday.

Chan finally put together a game expected from the very player who clinched back-to-back low amateur honors in the recently concluded local pro circuit, ramming in five birdies against four bogeys for a closing one-under 70 and turning a four-stroke deficit into a four-shot triumph over Miguel Olivarez-Ilas on a 226 aggregate.

“So happy to turn in my best game in three days. My tempo and short game were great and I played practically relaxed,” said Chan, who shot just three birdies in severe conditions in the first two days that saw him start at joint fourth (77) and fall to a share of fifth (79) Saturday.

But the rising 17-year-old star found his range in the final 18 holes, coming away with three birdies against a bogey at the front to seize control then birdying the first two holes at the back to pull away and win by a huge margin despite bogeys on Nos. 14 and 17.

While Chan saved his best for last in men’s play, Ilas lost his touch and cracked under pressure. He bogeyed No. 2 and dropped two strokes on the par-3 No. 4 which Chan birdied. The 14-year-old Ilas then failed to recover and groped for a pair of 39s and a 78 and settled for second at 230 after storming into the lead in the second round of the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and sponsored by Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments.

Unlike Chan, Bernice Olivarez-Ilas didn’t need to turn in a spectacular round to dominate the women’s field as she posted a runaway six-shot romp despite closing out with a seven-over 78 and a 225.

Junia Gabasa, just one behind Bernice at the start of the final round, skied to a 45 start and limped with a wind-blown 83 for a 231.