Closing eagle gives Quiban one-shot Lakewood triumph
Playing with steely resolve, Justin Quiban on Friday eagled the 72nd hole from about 20 feet to rule the P3 million ICTSI Lakewood Championship by a shot over South Korean Ha Tae-won, as the ending had all the drama that was missing in the first three rounds.
“I just knew that I needed to seize the opportunity,” Quiban said after closing out with a three-under-par 69 for 269 total for his fourth Philippine Golf Tour win, which he boosted with a course record 62 on Tuesday. “I didn’t want a playoff.”
The duo took their second shots on the par-5 closing hole tied at 17-under and Ha had the first eagle try from about 24 feet. He settled for birdie and a 68, even as the third man in the final group, Keanu Jahns, also eagled the 18th to return a 67 and finish third another shot back.
“My caddie gave me a good line, I followed it and the putt went in,” Quiban added. “I just trusted my training; I’ve done this so many times.”
Lloyd Go and Angelo Que submitted 66s to finish with 273 and 276 totals as the circuit opened up with a low-scoring stop that had 21 players finishing with sub-par tallies and 11 Filipinos occupying the top 12 places.
Starting the day just two shots ahead, Quiban would find himself down by a shot after the first nine holes and then more after a bogey and a double bogey to open up their trip coming home.
But the long-hitter would quickly steady the ship, draining three birdies in his next four holes before polishing off his character final round with that eagle set up by a huge drive that he only had 170 yards remaining for his approach.
