Unheralded Mondilla, Gabasa rule RP Amateur Open

Clyde Mondilla and Irina Gabasa continued their giant-slaying ways in the final day of the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship. The two unheralded par busters preserved their best in the final match play and fashioned out contrasting victories to bag the crown at the Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Mondilla, who ended the title defense bid of Mhark Fernando in the quarterfinals, routed fancied Miguel Tabuena, one of the players under the Tommy Manotoc-coached ICTSI-Canlubang team, 9 and 8. The 15-year-old Gabasa, on the other hand, beat lone foreigner Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, 1 up, in the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP)-organized tournament. Local bet Mondilla quickly grabbed the upper hand at 8 up after the first 18 holes. The Holy Cross High School third-year student needed just 10 holes in the afternoon to beat Tabuena. "I capitalized on Tabuena's poor shots. I wanted to post a big lead at the onset to relieve me off some pressure," said Mondilla, who idolizes the legendary and Bukidnon's pride Frankie Minoza. Gabasa, who hails from Cebu, fought tooth-and-nail against Yupaporn, the runner-up in the Laos Southeast Asian Games last year. The Filipino needed a birdie on the final hole (36th) to bring home the crown. "Yupaporn was one tough nut to crack. She didn't want to quit at all," Gabasa said. In the seniors play, local Nonoy Dulfo fended off Iggy Clavecilla, 4 and 3. - JVP/RCJ/Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV