Ababa rules Del Monte

This victory meant so much to me, confidence-wise

JHONNEL Ababa rules the ICTSI Del Monte Championship.

Armed with a big cushion, Jhonnel Ababa played pressure-free all throughout and snapped a year-long spell on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), beating local favorite Reymon Jaraula by two despite a wobbly finish for a 71 in the ICTSI Del Monte Championship in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon yesterday.

Not even Jaraula’s scorching frontside five-under 31 in a flight ahead nor Ababa’s late-hole miscues could tilt the balance for the homegrown talent and recent Pueblo de Oro winner as the Davaoeño ace had built too huge a lead with a string of brilliant 67s in the first three rounds of the P2.5 million event that served as the seventh leg of PGT’s 10th season.

He did stick to his game plan to slow down after doubling his 36-hole lead to four over Zanieboy Gialon and a charging Clyde Mondilla and moving six-up over Jaraula Friday, frustrating his pursuers with four birdies in the first 11 holes to all but wrap up the championship on a 16-under 272 total worth P450,000.

“This victory meant so much to me, confidence-wise,” Ababa said. “I actually felt I could win after Day 2 after making two eagles. I really had a great game and it motivated me in the third round.”

Not even a double-bogey on No. 15 and a bogey on the 17th could stop Ababa from nailing his first PGT win since ruling the rain-shortened Cebu leg of last year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI, finally ending up on top after a string of top eight finishes in the last three tournaments, including a joint third effort at Pueblo which Jaraula won in a two-hole playoff over Tony Lascuña last week.