MANOTOC TRIUMPHS BY SIX SHOTS
Tommy Manotoc of the Philippines scored a resounding victory in the 14th Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Open at Raffles Golf and Country Club. After a first round 75 which left him four shots behind Australia's Bill Banks who returned a 71, Manotoc took over the driver's seat in the scond round. A four under 68 and a 143 total had given him a one shot lead.
In the final round, Manotoc won unchallenged, cruising in with six shots to spare. Manotoc's 71 had given him a 214 total. New Zealand's Rodney Baltrop, who was only a shot behind after a second round 68 to add to a 76 settled for the runner-up spot. His final round was 76 and he finished with a 220 total.
The third place went to India's Vikramjit Singh with a 222 from three very consistent rounds of 74s. Three players K. C. Choo of Canada and two Australians Alex Cleave and Bill Banks shared the same score of 223. Choo with 76, 75 and 72 was fourth on count-back and Cleave with 75, 77 and 73 finished fifth, also on count-back. Banks' the first round leader with 71, could not maintain his form and after a 77 and 75 was placed sixth.
Former two-time winner Australia's Antony Gresham was seventh on count-back with 76, 77 and 71 and eighth on count-back was Stuart E Reid of New Zealand with 78, 71 and 75. Ninth was Indonesia's Gerung Sofyan with 74, 73 and 77. The trio were all on the same total of 224. The tenth spot went to Manotoc's compatriot Iggy Clavecilla who returned scores of 79, 71 and 76 for 226.
The APGC Team Event was won by Australia represented by Ian Read, Bill Banks, Alex Cleave, Geoff Davey, Max Robinson and Tony Gresham with an 893 total. Australia's other team of Graham Allen, Norm Way, Tony Musgrave and Chris Coats won the International Team Event.
The Championship on the Robert Trent Jones Junior designed course received very good response. 109 players representing 14 countries took part. The countries were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Scotland, Sweden and host Singapore.
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