Frenchman tops PH Open

- Advertisement -

CARMONA, Cavite. — Having barely qualified for the Asian Tour late last year, Julien Sale of France was an unknown quantity and hardly merited a second glance entering the Smart Infinity Philippine Open.

But after four sterling rounds, capped by a head-turning 65 on Sunday, Sale will no longer be overlooked as the unheralded Frenchman scored his first pro win at the picturesque Manila Southwood Golf and Country Club Masters Course here.

Going into the final round one shot behind erstwhile Japanese leader Tomoyo Ikemura, the 26-year-old native of Reunion, France had five birdies over the first 12 holes, including three in a row from holes Nos. 10 to 12, over the par-70, 7,138-yard layout that settled the issue.

- Advertisement -

Not even a bogey on the 18th hole – just his second for the day – could deprive Sale of a one-shot victory over Ikemura, who bogged down with a 72, and Thai Sadom Kaewkanjama, who scored 68.

The Frenchman pocketed the top prize of $90,000 (roughly P5.24 million) with a 269 tally.

With a 270 total, Kaewkanjama, who led after two rounds of the Asian Tour opening leg, and Ikemura settled for runner-up honors and won $43,250 (P2.519 million) each in the country’s premier and Asia’s oldest pro golf tournament.

Top local bet Miguel Tabuena’s bid for a third Philippine Open crown fell a tad short despite shooting a 66 on the final day, winding up four shots behind the victor in a three-way tie for fifth place at 273, good for $17,133 (P997,000).

Youthful Aldric Chan, who was on the same flight as Tabuena, also carded a 66 and finished as the next best Filipino performer, closing out in a five-way deadlock for eighth place to take home $9,870 (P574,000).

“This victory means a lot to me since I am just a reserve in the next Asian Tour leg. Now I will go there as a champion and can now play all of the Asian Tour legs this season,” said Sale, beaming, referring to the International Series India presented by DLF starting this Thursday in Gurgaon, India.

“This makes my schedule on the Asian Tour much easier,” added the newly-minted Philippine Open champion, who shot 69, 68 and 67, respectively, in the first three rounds.

“I have been pretty good all week long and almost made two short birdies on the eighth and ninth hole before I birdied 10th, 11th and 12,” noted the Frenchman, who tamed the formidable layout designed by famed American golf legend Jack Nicklaus on his first try.

But the golfer, who went into the last hole with a two-shot lead over Ikemura and Kaewkanjama, playing in the last flight, showed some concerns when he bogeyed the 18th.

“I had my worst drive and led to that bogey,” noted Sale, who felt quite relieved once he learned that the Thai and Japanese failed in their bid to beat him.

“While I was able to turn my game around, I just ran out of holes,” said Tabuena, who failed to shrug off his dismal 74 in the opening round and flirted with early elimination.

Showing resiliency in adversity, the two-time PH Open bounced back with a 68 in the second and sparkled with a 65 in the third, highlighted by four straight birdies from holes No. 6 to 9, after teeing off from the back nine.

“I am still proud of the way I fought back after the first day. I really wanted this trophy again and I gave it my best shot,” said Tabuena, who leaves today to take part in the Indian tourney’s pro-am on Wednesday.

Tabuna said he wanted to play in The Country Club Invitational in Canlubang, Laguna starting tomorrow, but was forced to skip the first leg of the 2025 of the Philippine Golf Tour after it was rescheduled.

“I was very excited to play in the TCC Invitational but it was postponed so couldn’t do so anymore. I always like to play The Country Club because I’ve won there a couple of times,” Tabuena said.

National Golf Association of the Philippine chairman Al Panlilio said he was generally satisfied with the staging of the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, which made its comeback to the Asian Tour after a 10-year absence.

“We’re obviously very happy to host this since it has been five years since we last had the Philippine Open and 10 years since it was on the Asian Tour, which is a privilege,” Panlilio said.

- Advertisement -spot_img

“Hopefully we can do it again next year, much bigger since we only had a short preparation time. We’re planning for a bigger one next year,” he said.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: