DAVAO City – Fidel Concepcion finally turned years of promise into fulfillment, capturing his first-ever Philippine Golf Tour crown in the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic here Friday, Oct. 24 – but not before enduring one of the toughest, most nerve-wracking finishes imaginable.
What looked like a walk in the park quickly turned into a test of will and composure. Concepcion, who had built a commanding six-stroke lead midway through the final round of the P3.5 million championship, suddenly saw his advantage vanish. Yet when it mattered most, the Fil-Australian held his nerve, burying a career-defining birdie from 10 feet on the second playoff hole to edge Korea’s Jaehyun Jung and capture the long-elusive victory.
“Honestly, it’s unreal,” said Concepcion, visibly emotional as he struggled to find the right words. “It’s one of those things you never know if it will ever happen. And somehow – it did.”
Outdriven by Jung in both playoff holes, Concepcion showed that accuracy and mental toughness outweigh pure power. On their second trip to the par-4 ninth, he calmly pulled a 4-iron from the tee and found the heart of the fairway – a perfect setup for his trusted 8-iron. From 160 yards downwind, he knocked it stiff, landing just 10 feet from the cup.
Jung, forced to respond, came up short, his approach stopping well shy of the flag. The Korean missed his long birdie attempt, and Concepcion seized the moment – rolling in the winning putt and raising both arms in triumph, as years of frustration finally melted into joy.
The path to the playoff was anything but smooth. After birdies on Nos. 1 and 3, Concepcion appeared in total control at two-under through seven, six shots clear of Tony Lascuna. But the Apo Golf and Country Club layout is unforgiving. A double bogey on the par-4 eighth and another dropped shot on No. 10 cracked the door open for the field.
Jung, five shots adrift entering the final round, played fearlessly. He scorched the back nine with three birdies in the last four holes, posting a tournament-best 67 to catch Concepcion, who matched par 72, at 284. Lascuna stayed close for a while but eventually settled for third at 288 after a closing 72.
Guido van der Valk shot a 71 for fourth at 289 and Elee Bisera birdied the last hole to save a 74 for fifth at 291.
Zanieboy Gialon faltered with a 75 for sixth at 292, Salvador limped with a 78 for seventh at 293, and Dino Villanueva and Korean Chon Koo Kang tied at eight at 294 after matching 71s.
