Fidel Concepcion can finally call himself a champion, but not after needing to pick himself up in regulation and surviving a nerve-wracking two holes of sudden death to turn back a gritty South Korean also wanting to fulfill his potential.
After returning a level par 72 to be in a playoff with Jae Hyun-jung after a 72-hole 284, Concepcion nailed a 10-footer for birdie on their 20th hole of the day that ended a decade of wait by hoisting the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic trophy in Davao on a humid Friday afternoon.
‘Honestly, it’s unreal,’ said an emotional Concepcion, who struggled to find the words. ‘It’s one of those things you never know if it will ever happen. And somehow it did.’
Concepcion was at one-over after a double bogey six on the 14th, before steadying the ship somewhat by picking up a shot on the next which proved to be pivotal.
Jung fired a tournament-best 67 built around six birdies, with three coming in the last three holes as he caught Concepcion at the wire after erasing a six-stroke lead at one point during the round.
Antonio Lascuña also fired a 72 to finish alone in third just four strokes behind, with Guido van der Valk returning a 71 to wind up another shot behind. Elee Bisera fired a 74 to round out the top five with a 291 tally.
Concepcion hit an 8-iron approach from 160 yards on their second trip to the par-4 ninth hole to within that 10-foot range, before holing the putt that erased all bitter memories of bitter finishes where he failed to get the job done in the past
The tour will travel next week to nearby South Pacific, a well-manicured layout where scores are expected to be low, quite the departure from the battle of survival the gritty men of the PGT had to endure at tree-lined Apo Golf.