53-year-old Miñoza shows old form to win ICTSI Del Monte Championship

Frankie Miñoza put on a vintage performance as he shot in an incredible nine-under par 63 to overhaul a five-shot deficit and storm off with the title in the P1 million ICTSI Del Monte Championship in Bukidnon yesterday.

The 53-year old Miñoza turned back the clock and showcased the form that made him the face of Philippine golf for a time as he hit all the fairways and made all but one green in a near-flawless performance.

He rammed in nine birdies, wiping out Salvador’s five-stroke lead on No. 10 on a stirring five-birdie binge and completing his romp in the 54-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI with back-to-back birdie windups for a 31-32 card.

Miñoza fell one birdie short of his target but his 63 proved more than enough to rout the field which had previously braced for a two- or three-man duel among Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuna and Johvanie Abano.

After two 70s and a 63, Miñoza wound up with a 13-under 203, turning a five-stroke deficit into a five-shot victory worth P200,000 as Salvador hobbled with a 73, Lascuna settled for a 72, Abano carded a 71, Miguel Tabuena fired a 69 and James Ryan Lam charged back with a 68. All five ended up with 208s and each took P62,000.

Miñoza’s 63, thus, stood as Del Monte’s new record although the 53-year-old former two-time Philippine Open champion and former Asian Tour No. 1 had shot a 59 in a practice round in his early 20s.

It was also Miñoza’s second win this year following his playoff victory over brothers Jay and Rufino Bayron in The Country Club Invitational last February.