Robert Pactolerin nipped Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in a playoff duel of players seeking an end to a long title drought, clinching the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic championship with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole before a big Friday crowd last week at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.
Pactolerin fought back from four strokes down to shoot a three-under 67 and gain a rare crack at the crown at five-under 205, the same output put in by Lascuna who recovered from a disastrous frontside stint of 38 with two birdies at the back to salvage a 71.
They parred the par-5, 618-yard No. 18th twice in the playoff then birdied the same hole the third time, and fourth in the day, before Pactolerin set up another birdie chance from eight feet from a superb approach shot for the clincher, ending a long drawn out battle for the top P200,000 purse in this sixth leg of the 17-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But it’s worth the wait and a well-deserved win for the former Philippine Open and many-time Masters champion, who proved that he still has what it takes to win.
“Meron pa (I still have the game). I always believe that I can still win for as long as I keep myself in shape. All you need is discipline,“ said Pactolerin, who also had to endure six missed cut stints this year – misfortunes that only drove him to persevere. [PR]
