Van der Valk coasts to five-shot The Country Club romp

Guido Van der Valk was all pumped up after hitting the field. —PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

STA. ROSA, Laguna—Using a front nine attack that buried the chasers, Guido Van der Valk on Friday never felt threatened despite failing to win the P6 million The Country Club Invitational by five shots against LJ Go in his only second of the tournament. repeat champion.

The Dutchman closed with a one-over-par 73, playing the back nine in a steady 40, but still won with plenty to spare as no one chased close to matching the 33 out as Van der Valk sent consecutive wins here spread over three years due to the pandemic .

“It’s an honor to win this tournament twice. It’s very special to win back-to-back and I’m very happy that I was able to do that,” said Van der Valk, who tallied a total of 72-holes of 294 while battling heavy gusts and course designed for field bedevil.

Only Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que have won the event three times, but both are out this year as Van der Valk is unable to escape the field after starting the second round in a four-way tie for the lead with continuous play that challenge the trying situation. .

“I played really well after 9 holes but I struggled a little at the back but I had enough buffer to stay comfortable,” Van der Valk added. “I’m happy to be able to do this again and I’m looking forward to defending my title next year.”

Go, who had the only sub-par round this week, a 73 that came in the third round, closed with a 74, while Antonio Lascuña and Micah Shin, both former champions, completed a stroke back after sending 75 and 74. , respectively.

Van der Valk had just a two-shot lead over Go entering the final day. But he had all four birdies in seven holes from No.

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