Sweet victory for Stewart

TIM Stewart ends 11 years of heartbreak when he ruled the CAT Open.

TARLAC — Tim Stewart finally nailed the victory that has eluded him the past 11 years — and one that nearly slipped from his clutches again by his own undoing — beating the reigning Philippine Open champion no less in sudden death to claim ICTSI Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) Open crown here yesterday.

The Aussie turned what had appeared to be a trouble-free romp into a scary triumph, blowing a three-stroke lead with two holes to go with a bogey-double-bogey finish for a 72 and enabling Clyde Mondilla to force a playoff at 15-under 273 after the latter charged back with an eagle-spiked 66.

But Stewart came out the victor with a routine par in their return trip to the par-4 18th and Mondilla the vanquished after barely hitting the green and flubbing a par putt from five feet that would have extended the match in a fitting ending to a week of uncertainties.

“Finally, I made it,” said Stewart, visibly relieved after saving himself from what could have been the biggest embarrassment in a pro career spanning 11 years. “This is sweet. I couldn’t ask for more.”

But the 34-year-old Stewart, who received the replica of the check worth $17,500 from ICTSI Public Relations’ Jupiter Kalambakal and Luisita club manager Jeric Hechanova, said he wouldn’t be vying in the ICTSI The Summit Point World 18 Challenge in Batangas next week for a three-week break in the United States.

Stewart’s 15-under total also bettered the previous best of 14-under output put up by James Ryan Lam in ruling this event last year with the victory also erasing the stigma of a number of failed bids.

Surprised by Stewart’s late meltdown, Mondilla failed to complete what could’ve have been one of the most incredible comebacks in region’s booming circuit put up by ICTSI in 2017, overshooting the target in the playoff with his 8-iron approach shot from 120 yards that landed on the right edge of the green.

“I bumped it to within five feet but missed it. It’s (title) really for him,” said Mondilla, who settled for $11,500 runner-up prize.

Despite his foldup in regulation, Stewart picked himself up in the playoff, blasting his 50-degree wedge from 112 yards to within eight feet. Though he missed the birdie chance, he clinched the win just the same as Mondilla wobbled in the end.

Van der Valk, Stewart’s chief rival after three rounds, moved to within three with a birdie on No. 1 but the Manila-based Dutchman faded just as quickly with two bogeys in the next three holes and spent the rest of the day a virtual spectacular to the unfolding classic duel between Stewart and Mondilla.