Rodel Mangulabnan placed the Philippines on the world map after topping the 55-60 age-group division of the 2022 World Senior Golf Championship at Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, California Monday.
Mangulabnan, a fixture in the Philippine Airlines Interclub and Fil-Am Invitational, rallied in the final round, shooting a 77 to edge Joaquim Luiz Reiter by seven shots.
He finished the 36-hole medal play on 13-over 157.
Playing at the 6,207-yard South course, Mangulabnan played the back nine on even par following a birdie on 10 against a bogey on 15.
Earlier, he made two bogeys in the first seven holes at the front before stumbling with a triple bogey on 8.
Mangulabnan was the only Filipino to qualify in the match play phase of the tournament beginning Tuesday.
Ranked seventh in the field, the Filipino will play against Panama’s Ricardo Cardoze.
Sharing the limelight with Mangulabnan were teammates Alex Mercado, Raymundo del Rosario, Mario Lugay and Lino Magpantay.
Mercado ruled Division 1 and Del Rosario prevailed in Division 2.
Lugay and Magpantay ended up second and third, respectively in Division 4.
The Silverado is home to the PGA Tour Fortinet Championship.