Miñoza turns back clock, rules P2.5M Wack Wack Championship

Frankie Miñoza has once again proven that age doesn't matter in golf as he essayed a come-from-behind win in the P2.5-million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship Friday beating Rufino Bayron and Elmer Saban in two-hole playoff at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Miñoza, who took some time off in the US Seniors Tour, carded a two-under-par 70 at the fabled and challenging East course to rally from seven shots down to force the playoff. He and Bayron actually matched score while Saban limped with a 75 to end up with 215 each at the end of the 54-hole regulation of the season-ending event of the very successful ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. In the first playoff hole, Bayron went out-of-bounds on a missed green on the 18th to bow out of contention leaving Miñoza and Saban battling for the crown and the P450,000 top prize. After Miñoza and Saban's pars on the second playoff hole, the former finally shook off his foe as he drained a tap-in par then watched Saban flub a par-save from six feet to nail his only title this year. "This is special since I'm already 51 and there are a lot of young players around. But I showed I can still win,” said Miñoza, who also won his second Philippine Open crown at Wack Wack in 2007. For Saban, it was both a thrill and disappointment that he didn't win. “Sayang! (Tough luck!). I had the chance but I just got unlucky.” Saban nevertheless banked his biggest earning (P320,000) since winning P92,500 in a runner-up finish to Juvic Pagunsan in last year's ICTSI Apo leg. Bayron, the Aboitiz Invitational winner, settled for P210,000. — JVP, GMA News