Filipino golfer birdies Vietnam crown

Mars Pucay

Mars Pucay fired a closing two-under par 70 yesterday to capture the Mercedes Benz Vietnam Championship at the Vietnam Golf and Country Club in Ho Chi Minh City, his second title on the ASEAN Tour.

One stroke behind Thai Nakul Vichitryuthasastr, Pucay drew level with a birdie on No. 2 then gunned down two more on Nos. 8 and 10 to surge ahead before hanging tough with gutsy pars for nines of 35-35.

Counting his earlier 69 and back-to-back 72s, Pucay wound up with a five-under 283 to beat Thai Pijit Petchkasem, who also shot a 70-284, by one stroke in the fourth leg of the five-stage golf tour.

It was Pucay's second victory in the fledgling circuit after the Filipino shotmaker topped the second leg at Mt. Malarayat last month. He won $8,705 (P347,000).

Vichitryuthasastr cracked under pressure and fumbled with two bogeys against a birdie as he faltered with a 73 and dropped to joint third with Cassius Casas with 285.

Casas, whose 68 in the third round tied him with Pucay at second, actually seized control with birdies on Nos. 3 and 10. But the dusky Davaoeño shotmaker bogeyed two of the last three holes and settled for a 72 and a 285.