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ARTEMIO Murakami overcame grief following a death in the family and
kept the momentum of his superb first round stint to card a
two-under par 70 and capture the Omega Cup Philippines 2007 crown
with a four-stroke victory over Ruben Sasutil at Wack Wack’s east
course Friday.
The 23-year-old Murakami stayed focused in the
company of amateurs Ariel Rivera, Orven Rivera and Manuel Torres and
banged away back-to-back birdies from No. 3 then added two more
birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 that negated his bogeys on Nos. 8 and 15.
He had a 35-35.
Counting his opening four-under 68, Murakami
pooled a 36-hole aggregate of 138 as he ran away with the top purse
of P120,000 in the two-day tournament sponsored by Omega, the
world’s leading watch manufacturer.
“I dedicate this win to my brother,” said
Murakami, referring to his elder brother who succumbed to liver
cancer last week.
Murakami’s victory at Wack Wack also came
eight years after he upended Angelo Que to win the 1999 national
amateur crown and become the youngest national champion at 15.
Also on tap in the event are best-ball team play
composed of one pro, one celebrity and two VIPs, plus the individual
competition in Classes A, B, C and D and the celebrity division.
Sasutil, who with Gerald Rosales started the
round just a stroke off Murakami, fumbled with a 73 but settled for
runner-up honors with a 142 and took home the P70,000.
Rey Alit flashed vintage form and matched par 72
to share third place with Jerome Delariarte, firing a one-under
par 71, at 143. They halved the combined purse of P86,000.
Rosales, who made a strong windup to finish
runner-up to Frankie Miñoza in the recent Philippine Open at Wack
Wack, struggled in his comeback bid this time, fumbling with a
four-over 76 and settling for joint fifth with Juvic Pagunsan at
145.
Pagunsan, competing for the first time in three
weeks, atoned for his so-so 78 in the first round as he came through
with the tournament-best score of five-under 67 for that 145.
Rosales and Pagunsan each received P28,000.
Rey Pagunsan also scored even par 72 and placed
seventh with a 146 worth P20,000 while Richard Sinfuego made a 73
for eighth place at 147. He won P18,000.
Mario Manubay and Cassius Casas shared
ninth place at 148 with the former scoring a 74 and the latter
rallying with a 71. They shared the combined P30,000 prize staked in
the tournament, organized by Len Plus, Inc. headed by Marilen Nuñez.
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