Historic breakthrough by Frenchman Sale in ruling PH Open by a stroke
CARMONA, Cavite—Julien Sale was a pro without a tour just a few months back. And after earning membership on the Asian Tour by making it through a grueling qualifying series, the 27-year-old Frenchman didn’t waste time in writing his name on the history books.
The bearded Sale handled all the elements well on another hot and windy day at the Masters course of the Manila Southwoods here, closing with a five-under-par 65 to become the first Asian Tour debutant to win after ruling the $500,000 Smart Infinity Philippine Open by a shot.
“This changes everything for me,” Sale, who tallied 269 over a course that bared its fangs the entire week, said of his first pro win. “I can now plan my entire calendar, unlike before coming here when I wasn’t sure where I would be playing next.”
Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, the leader after the first two rounds, and Tomoyo Ikemura of Japan, who held an overnight one-shot lead, ended up in a second place tie after signing for 67 and 68, respectively, even as Miguel Tabuena still wound up as the best Filipino in the crack field after shooting a 66 to finish just four shots off.
The streak that did it
Australian Kevin Yuan carved out a 68 to be at 272 before Thai Poom Saksansin (67) and South African Ian Snyman, who shot a 67, finished tied with Tabuena.
A string of three birdies from No. 10 had Sale wresting command as he opened up a three-shot cushion heading into the 72nd tee mound only to hit “my worst drive of the week and make it hard on myself.”
For someone who lost his DP World Tour challenger card after a trying season last year, Sale played with the composure of a winner in rescuing bogey on the 18th.
“I’m just pretty relieved that it’s all over,” Sale said after taking a drop to lay 3 on the fairway, take two shots to reach the green and lag a 20-footer to within tap-in distance for that bogey. “I really didn’t want to mess this (chance) up.”
Tabuena, meanwhile, can look at his opening 74 on Thursday as the round that slowed him down, as he played the final three rounds at 11-under.
“I ran out of holes,” Tabuena told the Inquirer before going to the scorer’s box to turn in his card. “I’m still really happy with the way I played. I’m excited for this year. This is the first tournament out of the 25 that I will play and I believe it’s going to be a good year.”
Sale, because of the win, has automatically been invited to the lucrative India leg of the International Series next week where he will join the likes of Tabuena and John Catlin, the American who ruled the Order of Merit race last year.
