Mondilla holds on, Singson triumphs at Splendido

LAUREL, Batangas, Philippines — Clyde Mondilla stayed in control of the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship,  salvaging a 72 and moving 18 holes away from winning a crown following back-to-back runner-up finishes on the Philippine Golf Tour.

An uncharacteristic triple-bogey on the par-5 No. 9 nearly ruined the day for the stocky Del Monte ace, who birdied Nos. 3 and 10 then bounced back with back-to-back birdies from No. 16 after dropping another stroke on the 14.

From seven-up over Tony Lascuña halfway through the P2 million event, Mondilla’s lead is down to two two with a 14-under 202 aggregate as Guido van der Valk took the challenger’s role with a solid eagle-spiked 66 in a separate flight for a 204.

Lascuña cashed in on Mondilla’s early meltdown with a fiery 33 to move within two. But the multi-titled campaigner slowed down with a one bogey-one birdie card at the back for a 69 and a 206, four strokes behind.

“It happens,” said Mondilla, referring to his solid drive on No. 9 that sailed straight and long but failed to clear a fairway hazard on his 6-iron second shot. He took a drop and overshot the green then three-putted.

“There was pressure but I was able to endure it. Just had an unlucky bounce on No. 9,” added Mondilla, who lost to Miguel Tabuena on the second playoff at ICTSI Luisita last March and then lost by four to Zanieboy Gialon in last month’s ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship.

Meanwhile, amateur Mafy Singson finally nailed the elusive title by holding off Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio and Harmie Constantino to rulethe ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship by one with a 71 yesterday.

Not even a bogey-bogey skid from No. 14 could stymie the rising Davaoeña star’s stab at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour glory as erstwhile leader Baraquiel faded with double bogeys on Nos. 13 and 14 and blew a two-stroke lead. Avaricio and Constantino fell short of their playoff bids with pars on the last two holes.

“It was really a close fight,” said Singson.