Dumandan rallies to beat Bayron at Sherwood Hills

Trece Martires, Cavite — Marvin Dumandan ruled the ICTSI-Sherwood Hills Classic after scoring a one-under-par 71 in Friday’s final round for a four-shot win over Jay Bayron and unheralded Orlan Sumcad at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club. Dumandan, who trailed by one before the final 18, grabbed the lead with a birdie on No. 1, where Bayron reeled back and dropped a stroke. Dumandan, however, wavered in the next two holes to again fall behind by two from Bayron. But Dumandan, who won last year’s ICTSI-Eagle Ridge crown, birdied the par-three sixth then watched Bayron struggle with a double-bogey to gain a one-stroke lead which he used as a springboard to beat the rest of the field and pocket the P200,000 top purse. The former national team player closed out with a 54-hole total of 214. Bayron, winner of the ICTSI-Forest Hills Classic in 2009, settled with a four-over 76 alongside Sumcad, who managed a 72 in the three-day event. "It was a sea-saw battle. I’m happy to get over it with the crown," Dumandan said. Asian Tour regular Mars Pucay , making a rare appearance on the circuit, rallied with the day’s best score of three-under-par 69 and a 219 to salvage a share of fourth with Cassius Casas and Antonio Lascuna. Angelo Que, who made an 8 on the par-4 18th in the second round, carded a 71 for a 220 and finished in joint seventh with Benjie Magada (72) and Randy Garalde (73) while Ferdie Aunzo, tied with Casas and Lascuna after 36 holes, skied to a 77 to drop to joint 10th at 221 with Ramil Bisera (72) and Ruben Sasutil (74). Reigning RP Open champion Elmer Salvador, who also holds the Order of Merit (OOM) crown, hobbled with a 76 for a 231 and finished in joint 33rd with Juvic Pagunsan (77), Arnold Villacencio (73), Gene Bondoc (74), Erwin Arcilla (77) and amateurs Zanie Boy Gialon (78) and Sonny Villaber (77). Jhonnel Ababa carded a 76 for a joint 22nd at 226 as he edged reigning national champion and fellow ICTSI-Cangolf teammate Mhark Fernando (73-227) for low amateur honors. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV