Experience indeed paid off well, as Singapore’s Mardan Mamat bagged the ICTSI Philippine Open Champion title at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club last Sunday, February 12.
Mamat, with his 17 years playing for the Asian Tour, emerged victorious as he finished with an overall score of nine-under-par 280 in the East Course, against younger golf pros including Philippines’ Antonio Lascuna, Miguel Tabuena, and Mo Joong-kyung of Korea.
At 44-years old, this was Mamat’s first championship title in Asia’s oldest and highly-acclaimed national championship. This was also considered as his comeback in the Asian Tour, his last win being in the 2004 Indian Open and 2006 Singapore Masters.
Mamat’s prize was a $47,550 (approximately P2 million) cash prize, an Omega Aqua Terra watch and a Blackberry phone.
On the other hand, Mo at second place, had a three-under-par 285 overall score and earned $32,550. Sharing third place and earning $16,545 (P704,190) each are Lascuna (287), the top Filipino golfer in the second leg of this year’s Asian Tour, and Azuma Ayano of Japan.
