Early setback drives Jobim Carlos to OOM feat

MANILA, Philippines — Jobim Carlos used his missed cut gaffe in the Philippine Golf Tour kickoff leg as motivation as he struck back with big victories and a number of top three finishes to accomplish his mission.

He nailed two wins and churned out a couple of runner-up and third place efforts to clinch the Order of Merit crown, sharing the honors with Princess Superal, who nipped Thai Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng by the slimmest of margins for the Ladies PGT diadem.

The two took center stage in yesterday’s annual PGT/LPGT Awards rites at The Country Club with both targeting to go big-time in the lucrative Japan circuit next year.

“This would surely bolster my confidence as I try to qualify in the Japan PGA Tour,” said Carlos. “But I would still play on the local circuit more often.”

After failing to advance at Eagle Ridge, the 25-year-old former national amateur champion worked on his game and posted his maiden win at Apo then prevailed in Iloilo while placing second at Pueblo de Oro and Negros. He also ended up third in the Philippine Masters and Bacolod to become the new toast of Phl pro golf.

The ace shotmaker from Meycauayan, Bulacan closed out the 10-leg PGT with P2,487,083 in earnings, nearly doubling the winnings of second placer and Club Filipino De Ceby Invitational champion Jhonnel Ababa (P1,366,375).

Three foreign bets also scored breakthrough victories on the circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including young Korean Kim Joo Hyung, who topped the Pueblo de Oro leg. He finished third in the OOM derby with P1,361,500 followed by Eagle Ridge titlist Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands (P1,268,642), Luisita Invitational winner and last year’s OOM champion Clyde Mondilla (P1,134,233), Phl Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas (P1,103, 416), former OOM winner Jay Bayron (P1,053,519), multi-titled Tony Lascuña (P987,366), American Nicolas Paez, who ruled the Del Monte leg, (P925,566) and Aussie Tim Stewart (P832,083).

Like Carlos, Superal scored two victories – in back-to-back fashions at Highlands and Riviera and turned in six top six finishes, including tied for second at Champion Tour-Southwoods and joint third at Luisita to claim the OOM diadem with P1,150,183 in winnings, foiling the bids of the Thais, who dominated the 11-leg ladies circuit with six victories.

“This (OOM feat) is so significant to my career, a big confidence-booster,” said Superal, the former US Girls Junior champion who is actually on the third stage of the Japan Tour qualifying.

Wilairungrueng, who topped the ICTSI Champion Tour at Southwoods, fell short of toppling Superal with P1,080,150 with last year’s OOM winner and this year’s Eagle Ridge leg champion Chihiro Ikeda finishing third with P933,770.

Yupaporn Kawinpakorn actually posted two victories at Beverly Place and Summit Point but the Thai ace played in only five tournaments and earned P641,907 for fourth followed by former three-time OOM titlist Cyna Rodriguez (P638,583), and Thais Onkanok Soisuwan, who ruled at Mt. Malarayat, (P533,517), Chonlada Chayanun (P493,787), Tiranan Yoopan (P457,750), Pannapa Polnamin (P434,714) and Luisita leg winner Supakchaya Pattaranakrueng (P383,000).