LIPA, Batangas: Thanyakon Khrongpha fired an eagle-aided five-under 67 to win the rain-interrupted $50,000 ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Championship yesterday at the Malarayat golf and country club here. The Thai, who was three-shot over leading local bet Juvic Pagunsan pocketed the hotly disputed crown worth $8,126.
“I played really well. My only mistake was on the 16th where I hit my tee shot out of bounds,” said Khrongpha after turning in a 66 in the third round.
Juvic Pagunsan, who with teener Miguel Tabuena bounced back to within one off Khrongpha and Tony Lascuna at the start of the final round of the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., found his win streak snap despite a three-under 69, ending up three strokes behind Khrongpha with a 12-under 276 worth $5,616.
“I was in control of my game but I missed a lot of putts at the back. I feel I could do better this week but to no avail,” said Pagunsan
Khrongpha built enough cushion with a scorching five-under 31 at the front, featuring three straight birdies from No. 5 highlighted by an eagle-3 on the par 5 No.9. That blazing start put him five shots clear off Lascuna, who finished solo third with a 71.
The 16-year-old Tabuena finished solo fourth at 279 after a 72 marred by three straight bogeys from No. 14. He took home $2,551.
Eight other local bets followed suit, none succeeded in foiling Khrongpha’s title bid with Rufino Bayron placing fifth with a 280 after a 68 worth $2,051.
Jay Bayron strung up four birdies in the first five holes at the back, including three straight from No. 10, but bogeyed two of the last four for a 70. He wound up sixth with a 281 and received $1,801.
Elmer Salvador and Jerson Balasabas finished joint seventh with 282 after a 69 and 70, respectively, while Jhonnel Ababa bogeyed four of the first five holes for a 74, ending up tied for ninth with 2007 champion Mars Pucay, who eagled the par-5 17th but wound up with an even par 72, at 283.
