Foo, Guioguio capture PHL Amateur Open championship

Canlubang — Gregory Foo fended off the late charges of Jobim Carlos and Clyde Mondilla to capture the title while Lovelyn Guioguio romped away with ladies plum after the rain-drenched final round of the 2012 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship held at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna.      Foo struggled against playing under the heavy morning rains at the North course—something he has not been doing in his career—as he wavered with a closing seven-over-par 79 for a 287 overall.  He finished two strokes better than Carlos’ 289 after a three-over-par 75.  Mondilla placed third with a 76 for 290.      “I don’t normally play when it rains.  So it was a different experience.  It was soggy all day,” said the 18-year-old Singaporean, who held a six-stroke advantage going to the final 18 of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) organized tournament.      Guioguio, meanwhile, had an easier time than Foo.  She carded a one-under-par 71 to end up at 219, dethroning Andrea Unson (72-225) in the process.  Princess Superal (75-226), Sunshine Baraquiel (76-227) and erstwhile leader Sarah Jane Ababa (75-228) completed the top 5.      “I played a lot better than the first two rounds, when there was no rain.  That surprised me,” said Guioguio, who was awarded a Black Berry mobile phone as part of her winnings.      Carlos, the Filipino capable of pulling off an upset off Foo, had one last chance of catching up, that was to birdie the last three holes.  However, with the too much pressure on his shoulders, he made pars on Nos. 16 and 18 that sandwiched a birdie on the 17th.      “It’s hard to chase Foo’s lead.  He groped for form all the day but I didn’t match it with a better round,” Carlos said.      Mondilla, the former national amateur champ, played a better game for 12 holes as he grabbed a lead of one over Foo.  But the Filipino shot-maker from Bukidnon limped with a triple bogey 7 on the par-four 13th hole to dash all hopes of toppling the Singaporean foe. - OMG, GMA News