Paez marks big day with Del Monte win

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon — American Nicolas Paez gifted himself a big birthday present as he captured the ICTSI Del Monte Championship by two on a closing three-under 69 yesterday at the Del Monte Golf Club here.

Paez outslugged Kim Joo Hyung and Tony Lascuña in a pressure-packed frontside duel then fended off a slew of rivals, including Lee Song and James Ryan Lam, at the finish to rule the P3-million championship.

Paez overcame erstwhile joint leaders Kim and Lascuna’s one-stroke edge with two birdies against a bogey at the front, including a lead-grabbing tap-in birdie on the ninth, then hit three more birdies against another bogey at the back to thwart at least three other bidders for top honors with a 10-under 278 total.

They included Lee, a joint leader in the first two days who tied Paez at nine-under overall heading to the 72nd hole.

But the young Korean bogeyed the par-5 18th for the second straight day in a flight ahead and finished with a 71.

Unmindful of Lee’s final-hole mishap, Paez still went for a birdie on the 18th and buried his rivals and the pent-up emotions of a string of heartbreaking finishes.

That included a joint runner-up finish at PGT Eagle Ridge last March and a so-so share of 15th place effort in last week’s Apo Invitational, but the Venezuelan-American worked his way into contention with two 71s and a 69 then outduelled Kim and Lascuna in the early going and warded off Lee and Lam with a kind of finish that wins big-time championships.