Filipinos trim Thais, repeat as Putra Cup champions
TARLAC—With a gritty final round built around Chris Remata’s one-under-par 71 on Friday, Team Philippines nipped regional force Thailand by two strokes and won the prestigious Putra Cup golf championship for the second straight time at Luisita here.
Shinichi Suzuki, the Filipino Japanese who is the only remnant of the victorious 2023 team, and Perry Bucay matched par 72s for a closing four-under-par 218 and 860 overall as the Filipinos posted a two-shot win in what is regarded as the Southeast Asian region’s team championship, where Indonesia checked in third, another shot behind the Thais.
Rolando Bregente submitted a 74 and didn’t count on the final day for the Filipinos, but it was still worth the silver in individual play.
“I’m really proud of the boys,” head coach Ramon Brobio told Inquirer Golf. “We just prepared very well for this and the kids really fought hard. So I am very, very proud.”
Indonesia’s Randy Bintang returned a 72 and won the individual gold medal by six shots over Bregente with a 278 tally. Remata and Suzuki wound up with identical 291 totals to finish tied for seventh in individual play.
The Philippine victory was made possible by a blazing 213 opening round anchored on Bregente’s 70, as Thailand was forced to play catch-up after submitting a 222 first round effort that was also eight shots behind Indonesia.
Indonesia finished third, seven shots behind the Filipinos.
