STA. ROSA, Laguna — Guido Van der Valk bogeyed four holes coming home but still pulled off a five-shot win over Lloyd Jefferson Go in The Country Club Invitational in Laguna Friday.
Van der Valk closed with a one-over par 73 to finish 72 holes on 6-over.
“It’s an honor to win this tournament twice. It’s very special to win back-to-back and I’m super happy that I managed to do it,” said Van der Valk, who became only the second player to score a repeat in 16 editions of the annual championship.
There were no TCC Invitationals in 2015-16 and 2021-22.
“I played really good after nine holes but I struggled a little bit at the back but I had enough of a buffer to still be comfortable,” added Van der Valk. “I’m thrilled to have done this again and I look forward to defending my title next year.”
Van der Valk collected four birdies against a bogey in the first nine holes to build an eight-shot buffer that proved to be too much to overcome.
Not in stifling heats and high winds.
The Dutchman, who led from start to finish, pocketed the P2-million purse after matching Angelo Que’s victories in 2010 and 2011.
He first won the event three years ago, edging Clyde Mondilla by one shot.
After sharing the opening round with Jerson Balasabas, Bayron and Mondilla following a 73, Van der Valk took control at the halfway mark and did not look back.
“I did really good work hard the week before, so I practiced really hard. My ball-striking wasn’t that great before but it kind of sorted out for me, I knew what I was doing wrong and I managed to slowly get better during the tournament,” he said.
Go, who grabbed a spot in the championship flight with a tournament-best 71, took runner-up honors, worth a whopping P1 million, with a 299 after a 74.
Gialon fell apart with a wave of bogeys in heat and wind for a six-over card in the early stretch.
As Gialon blew it all with a frontside 42, Go assumed the challenger’s role with a 37 at the front but could get no closer than that it was at the finish as he likewise wavered with bogeys on 16 and 18 after a birdie on the 13.
Micah Shin, winner here in 2018, carded a 74 and tied 2004 champion Tony Lascuna, who turned in a 75, at third at 301 and split the combined P948,000 purse.
Clyde Mondilla, who lost to Van der Valk by one in a thrilling 2020 final, skied to a 77 and wound up fifth at 303 worth P288,000.
Art Arbole shot a 75 for joint sixth at 304 with Michael Bibat, who holed out with a double-bogey for a 78, while former amateur standout Mars Pucay also put in a 75 to tie 2013 winner Frankie Miñoza and erstwhile contender Jay Bayron, who both carded 77s, at eighth with 305s.
Gialon, runaway winner in Caliraya Springs last year, skied to an 84 and tumbled to 14th on 307.
