Ocampo rules ICTSI golf
CARL Santos-Ocampo logged in his first title win on the local pro tour as he knocked in a 15-foot birdie on the second playoff hole to beat James Ryan Lam and Randy Garalde in the final round of the P1 million ICTSI Ranchos Palos Verdes Classic in Davao yesterday.
It was an inspiring victory for Santos-Ocampo, who survived a day-long shootout with Lam and Jun Bernis with Garalde joining the fray a flight ahead with remarkable shotmaking and superb putting at the rolling Palos Verdes layout.
In the end, it was Santos-Ocampo’s will and determination that spelled the difference as he struck a 9-iron approach shot from 159 yards to about two-pin length in their third stint on the par-4 18th then watched his rivals flub their own birdie-bids from long range to clinch the victory in the most-tightly fought leg after 12 legs of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
The victory, worth P200,000, erased the stigma of Santos-Ocampo’s final round meltdown at ICTSI John Hay Championship, where he blew a big final round lead—and the title—to Marvin Dumandan last April. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
