Golf: Rates finally claims first ICTSI tour title 

BAGUIO — Jun Rates, after seven years of trying, has finally hoisted a championship title in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, triumphing at the ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship.
                  
With a steady game of pitch and putt, plus a string three of birdies in the last three holes, Rates tallied an 8-under-par 62 and 250 total. He capped his final round with a birdie from two feet on the 18th.

That 22-under is officially the highest winning score in Camp John Hay Golf Club’s history.
                  
“I thank the Lord for giving me this victory,” said Rates, who got a check for P360,000 from Narlene Soriano, ICTSI PR Head, and Jerom Delariarte, golf director of CJH Golf Club in the awards ceremony.
                  
Jay Bayron, the dethroned champion, made a 23-under in 2013 at the par-68 course but that did not count as preferred lies was used. He settled for third on 258 after a 67 worth P140,000.
                  
Antonio Lascuna, who had one last chance on an eagle try on the 17th, checked in at solo second on 63 for 253 and received P250,000 in the second leg of the tour.

“He [Jun] deserved to win. He played solid the whole week and was very determined to win his first title,” said Lascuna. “But it was his clutch putts on Nos. 12 and 15 that made it difficult for me.

He rolled in a delicate downhiller from seven feet on No. 12 to remain on top, went two-up with another birdie on the 13th, then took a three-shot cushion when Lascuna dropped a stroke on No. 14.

Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo carded a 65, for solo fourth at 259. He pocketed P115,000, while Que rallied with a 64 to tie Orlan Sumcad, who shot a 65, at 261 and split the combined purse of P167,000.

Tabuena and Elmer Salvador put in identical 65s to share seventh place at 262 worth a combined take of P123,000 while Rene Menor fired a five-under 63 to tie Canadian Rick Gibson and Jhonnel Ababa, who both made 66s, at 263. Each got P45,500. - AMD, GMA News