ANTIPOLO, Philippines – If pressure wasn’t supposed to play a role in a title duel between cousins, Aidric Chan certainly made little effort to hide that he was applying it — relentlessly — on Carl Corpus.
But Corpus rose from an early stumble and weathered Chan’s day-long surge, emerging triumphant from a turbulent frontside battle by delivering when it mattered most. After limping to a disastrous 39 on the front nine, he steadied himself, regrouped and battled back with the poise of a rising champion.
Two clutch birdies in his last four holes salvaged a 73 — just enough to secure a breakthrough three-stroke victory in the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge at the South Course here Friday.
Corpus finished four strokes ahead of Chan with a four-day total of 11-under 277. Yet the final margin hardly told the story of how fiercely the duel unfolded — it was a tense, nerve-shredding contest that tightened deep into the final stretch.
“This win means the world to me,” said Corpus, still savoring the moment. “This is why we wake up, this is why we practice, this is why we do what we do — to be able to win.”
Asked to compare his maiden PGT victory to his early ADT triumph, he said,
“There’s no better feeling than winning, especially on your home course, in front of my family and friends. It truly means the world,” he added.
Chan, unrelenting all afternoon, forced a tie at 10-under after unleashing a blistering three-birdie run from No. 14 — an electrifying charge that momentarily swung momentum his way and made it appear he had deciphered the tricky layout at precisely the right time.
But just when it seemed Chan had Corpus cornered, his challenge unraveled. A costly bogey on the 17th halted his momentum, and another mishap on the closing hole sealed his fate. He closed with a 72 for a 280 total — an ending as sudden as it was stunning.
It was a bizarre conclusion to what had shaped up to be a compelling duel between two of the country’s rising stars — both coming off back-to-back victories on the ADT in Morocco last June, a historic first for the Philippines. They carried that momentum and spotlight back home, setting up a clash that lived up to its billing until the final two holes.
And while Chan faltered, Corpus grew stronger. Under pressure, he showcased the grit and calm of a player coming into his own. His birdie on No. 17 — delivered just as Chan faltered — created the decisive two-shot swing that not only turned the tide but also cracked the composure of his closest pursuer.
Pressed hard by Chan throughout the day, Corpus responded with maturity and resolve, proving he has the nerve and the game to be an emerging force in Philippine golf.
“I’m very excited to win this event. We work so hard all year — every day — and to show that on this stage is amazing,” said Corpus, after holding a firm four-shot lead after 54 holes on Thursday. “If I win? Honestly, no words. Just pure excitement.”
Words indeed fell short in capturing Corpus’ shaky start. Feeling the weight of the moment — and of Chan’s challenge — he bogeyed the third hole, watching his once-comfortable lead shrink to two after Chan birdied the fifth.
But as the stakes rose in the final leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour, so did the pressure. And Chan wasn’t spared, dropping shots on Nos. 7 and 8. Corpus, however, stumbled right back with miscues of his own on Nos. 8 and 9, momentarily tightening the contest before he ultimately steadied himself on the closing stretch.
What began as a two-man battle for the crown has erupted into a wide-open race, with Jeffren Lumbo, amateur Bobe Salahog, Ferdie Aunzo and Clyde Mondilla all charging into contention.
Lumbo, proving that his breakthrough playoff victory at South Pacific was no fluke, tightened the chase with a frontside 34 to pull even with Chan at seven-under overall. Salahog joined them, stunning the field of elite pros with a sizzling bogey-free five-under performance through 11 holes to secure a share of second.
Aunzo, long out of the title conversation, suddenly emerged as a serious contender after posting four-under through 12 holes. Meanwhile, Mondilla — the first-day co-leader — also stayed within striking distance at five-under overall, mixing three birdies with two bogeys through 12 holes.
But the contenders all reeled back when the going got tougher and the pressure mounted, dropping out of the title race one after another.
Salahog bogeyed the 17th, but his closing 68 still secured him a strong third-place finish at six-under 282, allowing him to run away with low-amateur honors worth P40,000 gift certificates.
Guido van der Valk, the third player in the final group, fell behind after two early bogeys and never recovered, carding a 74 to finish in a tie for fourth at 284 with Rupert Zaragosa (69), Aunzo (70), Jhonnel Ababa (71), Mondilla (72), and Lumbo (73).
Tony Lascuña, whose flawless, tournament-best 64 on Friday sparked hopes of a big comeback, cooled off with a 72 and settled for 10th at 285. (Pool story)
