Felipe Odio (C.M. photo)
15-year-old Felipe Odio, who at a young age has already made the Costa Rica National Team, shot a final-round even-par 71 to overtake Pablo Castellanos (Guatemala) and win the Campeonato Metropolitano by four shots.
Odio started the final round two shots behind Castellanos, but was able to overtake the overnight leader in a wild final round that was a roller coaster of momentum swings.
The hometown favorite picked up three shots on Castellanos and took the lead with a two-shot swing on the par-3 fifth hole, only to suffer a four-shot swing with a triple on the next hole to Castellanos' birdie.
But Odio put together three birdies in a row, picking up five shots and pulling back ahead by two. Castellanos clawed his way back to even after making birdie on the par-4 13th, but then was on the losing end of two more two-shot swings on the next three holes that ultimately proved to be the difference.
In all, there were four two-shot swings, one three-shot swing and one four-shot swing in the final round.
Odio finished the tournament at 3-over 219, four shots ahead of Castellanos. Randy Haag (Orinda, Caif.) shot a final-round 74 to finish tied for third with Diengo Chou (Costa Rica). Haag also was the low senior in the tournament.
The Campeonato Metropolitano is a three-day tournament held at three courses in Costa Rica and offer traveling Americans and good local players a chance to play in good weather is one of the friendliest countries there is to visit.
Pablo Castellanos (C.M. photo)
DAY TWO RECAP
Pablo Castellanos (Guatemala) finished with a flurry in round two of the Campeonato Metropolitano, going birdie-eagle to finish and reclaiming a two-shot lead that he had lost earlier in the round.
Playing at a windy Valle Del Sol, Costa Rica National Team member Felipe Odio had caught and passed the first-round leader with four birdies in five holes from the 8th through the 12th, but Castellanos made a birdie two on the 17th and then eagled the 602-yard 18th to take the lead into the final round.
Castellanos, who was three over par through seven holes, rallied for a 1-under 71 that gave him a 2-over 146 total. Odio had a 70 and sits alone in second, two shots back.
Randy Haag (Orinda, Calif.) shot a 74 and is in sixth place overall and first among those in the senior division.
The tournament finishes tomorrow at Cariari Country Club - a Fazio course and past home of Latin American PGA tour stops and several Central American amateur championships.
Round 1 was played at Costa Rica Country Club
DAY ONE RECAP
On a tough day for scoring, Pablo Castellanos (Guatemala), ranked 1308 in WAGR, shot a 3 over par 75 at the Costa Rica Country Club to take the first-round lead of the Campeonato Metropolitano.
Scoring was tough on day one of the 54-hole event, as the Costa Rica CC greens were very tricky on a course that already requires great shot making.
15-year-old Felipe Odio, a member of the Costa Rica National Team, is in second place.
Randy Haag (Orinda, Calif.) shot 8 over par and is running in seventh place.
The shot of the day goes to Norman Warren who holed out his iron shot for an eagle two on the ninth hole.
The tournament moves to Valle del Sol tomorrow before concluding at Cariari Country Club on Sunday. Valle del Sol has historically yielded far better scoring than Costa Rica CC and so expect better numbers in round two.
View results for Campeonato Metropolitano
ABOUT THE Campeonato Metropolitano
54-hole individual stroke play championship held at
three courses in Costa Rica. A World Golf Amateur
Ranking event. Benefits Rotary Clubs in Costa Rica.
View Complete Tournament Information