Corpus masters chaos to claim first PGT win at Valley

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ANTIPOLO – If pressure wasn’t supposed to play a role in a title duel between cousins, Aidric Chan certainly made little effort to hide that he was applying it – relentlessly – on Carl Corpus.

But Corpus rose from an early stumble and weathered Chan’s day-long surge, emerging triumphant from a turbulent frontside battle by delivering when it mattered most. After limping to a disastrous 39 on the front nine, he steadied himself, regrouped, and battled back with the poise of a rising champion.

Two clutch birdies in his last four holes salvaged a 73 – just enough to secure a breakthrough three-stroke victory in the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge at the South Course here Friday.

He finished four strokes ahead of Chan with a four-day total of 11-under 277. Yet the final margin hardly told the story of how fiercely the duel unfolded – it was a tense, nerve-shredding contest that tightened deep into the final stretch.

“This win means the world to me,” said Corpus, still savoring the moment. “This is why we wake up, this is why we practice, this is why we do what we do – to be able to win.”

Asked to compare his maiden PGT victory to his early ADT triumph, he said,
“There’s no better feeling than winning, especially on your home course, in front of my family and friends. It truly means the world,” he added.

Chan, unrelenting all afternoon, forced a tie at 10-under after unleashing a blistering three-birdie run from No. 14 – an electrifying charge that momentarily swung momentum his way and made it appear he had deciphered the tricky layout at precisely the right time.

But just when it seemed Chan had Corpus cornered, his challenge unraveled. A costly bogey on the 17th halted his momentum, and another mishap on the closing hole sealed his fate. He closed with a 72 for a 280 total – an ending as sudden as it was stunning.

It was a bizarre conclusion to what had shaped up to be a compelling duel between two of the country’s rising stars – both coming off back-to-back victories on the ADT in Morocco last June, a historic first for the Philippines. They carried that momentum and spotlight back home, setting up a clash that lived up to its billing until the final two holes.

And while Chan faltered, Corpus grew stronger. Under pressure, he showcased the grit and calm of a player coming into his own. His birdie on No. 17 – delivered just as Chan faltered – created the decisive two-shot swing that not only turned the tide but also cracked the composure of his closest pursuer.

Under pressure, Corpus drew strength from habits he’d developed since his college days at San Jose State University in the U.S.

“We always stick to our routines. Siempre kabado na, mabilis na hininga, mataas ang heart rate, pero iyon mismo ang nakasanayan mo sa practice. I just followed my routines perfectly. That’s what I did under pressure – I knew exactly what to do and how to execute it,” he said.

He said the turning point came on the par-5 No. 17. Tied at 10-under, he followed a solid drive with a superb 239-yard hybrid shot that landed six feet from the pin, setting up a two-putt birdie.

“‘Yun ang pinaka-turning point. After that, I told myself, medyo okay na ako,” he said.

From there, he was back in total control as Chan misfired on his drive, hit his 2-iron into the rough, and, despite going for the pin, overshot it and missed a par putt.

Corpus didn’t criticize Chan’s bold approach, emphasizing, “We always go for a win, no matter what happens next.”

What began as a two-man battle for the crown erupted into a wide-open race, with Jeffren Lumbo, amateur Bobe Salahog, Ferdie Aunzo, and Clyde Mondilla all charging into contention.

Lumbo, proving that his breakthrough playoff victory at South Pacific was no fluke, tightened the chase with a frontside 34 to pull even with Chan at seven-under overall. Salahog joined them, stunning the field of elite pros with a sizzling bogey-free five-under performance through 11 holes to secure a share of second.

Aunzo, long out of the title conversation, suddenly emerged as a serious contender after posting four-under through 12 holes. Meanwhile, Mondilla – the first-day co-leader – also stayed within striking distance at five-under overall, mixing three birdies with two bogeys through 12 holes.

But the contenders all reeled back when the going got tougher and the pressure mounted, dropping out of the title race one after another.

Salahog bogeyed the 17th, but his closing 68 still secured him a strong third-place finish at six-under 282, allowing him to run away with low-amateur honors worth PHP 40,000 in gift certificates.

Guido van der Valk, the third player in the final group, fell behind after two early bogeys and never recovered, carding a 74 to finish in a tie for fourth at 284 with Rupert Zaragosa (69), Aunzo (70), Jhonnel Ababa (71), Mondilla (72), and Lumbo (73).

Tony Lascuña, whose flawless, tournament-best 64 on Thursday sparked hopes of a big comeback, cooled off with a 72 and settled for 10th at 285.

In the end, it was the rookie who triumphed at Valley, fending off every volley not only from Chan but from a relentless array of challengers in a day packed with twists, turns, and high-stakes threats. His composure under pressure and unwavering skill left no doubt – he isn’t just a contender – he’s ready to be claimed, a rising force impossible to ignore.