Justin de los Santos one-putted nine straight holes on his way to a closing four-under par 68 and a joint sixth place finish in the ANA Open Championship at the Sapporo Golf Club in Hokkaido, Japan Sunday.
Twenty-four hours after scoring a rare albatross, the 27-year-old Filipino made six birdies, including four in that nine-hole stretch of superb putting. His two bogeys came on 6 and 7.
De los Santos finished the 72-hole event on 15-under, four shots behind Japanese winner Tomoharu Otsuki who edged compatriot Ryo Ishikawa in a sudden death playoff.
The Filipino collected 3,450,000 yen (roughly P1.37 million) for his efforts.
Meanwhile, Clariss Guce rode on a fast start to shoot seven-under-par 65 and line herself up for a possible third career title in the Guardian Championship of the Epson Tour at the
Capitol Hill Golf Club in Pratville, Alabama Saturday.
The 32-year-old daughter of a former Filipino horserace jockey champion birdied the first four holes on her way to reaching the turn on 5-under 31.
She added three more birdies against a lone bogey in the last nine holes.
On 8-under 136, Guce is just two shots behind Maria Torres of Puerto Rico who carded a 66.
Tied with Guce were Sierra Brooks, Dani Holmqvist, and Grace Kim who returned 65, 66, and 66, respectively.
In her six-year career in the Epson Tour, Guce has won twice and had 13 Top 10 finishes.
Two other Filipinas, Abby Arevalo, and Dottie Ardina, also produced sub-par scores.
Arevalo missed only one green in posting a 67 while Ardina scrambled to salvage 70.
After an opening 72, Arevalo stepped on the pedal, collecting three birdies in the front nine and added four more against two bogeys coming home.
On 139, Arevalo is in a tie for 17th spot with five players.
Ardina was in joint 36th on 142 after making four birdies against two bogeys.
She missed seven greens but saved par five times, thanks to excellent work around the greens.
Torres did not make a single bogey while collecting six birdies to take the lead going into the final round on Sunday.
