By Adrian Flores

STA. Rosa City?The ?old? Artemio Murakami came to play.

Murakami displayed the fine form he was known for at The Country Club Invitational, posting a closing two-under-par 68 and winning the wind-raked International Container Terminal Services Inc. event by a whopping record of 13 strokes.

By the time he made the turn, Murakami had already scored two birdie putts?one on opening hole from about 15 feet on the fringe and another on the fifth from nine feet?leaving the closest pursuers behind. The only suspense thereon was whether he could establish new feats.

In fact, Murakami, 25, made some. This is his maiden crown in the seven-year The Country Club Invitational and his winning margin is now the largest, eclipsing the 11 strokes posted by dethroned defending titlist Juvic Pagunsan last year.

Murakami, who?ll take a breather next week before heading to Thailand for the inaugural tourney of 2009 Asian Tour season, attributed his success to the eight-under-par 62 he made right on opening day.

?That 62 was the difference. It gave me the boost and confidence in the next three days. I?m happy to win this one because, now, I?m in the company of my friends who were champions here before,? said Murakami, referring to guys like Pagunsan (2008), Angelo Que (2007) and Jerome Delariate (2005).

Que finished with a three-over 73 and salvaged runner-up honors with 282.

?I?m surprised to be at no. 2. Still, it feels great because of the brutal conditions in the last two rounds,? said Murakami, who went home with P685,000.

Danny Zarate (70), Mars Pucay (73) and Delariarte (71) were in a three-way tie for third with 283s. Each received P326,667 in the event, which was the first leg of the fledging Philippine Golf Tour revived by ICTSI in 2008.

ICTSI golf team member Rufino Bayron captured the best amateur honor with a 284 total despite a nine-over 79 yesterday to defeat the 78-287 of teammate Anya Tanpinco. Ferdinand Aunzo, the reigning national amateur champion, copped third with 79-288.

Frankie Mi?oza is very happy with Murakami?s victory and he expects his prot?g? to win more in the coming golf season of the Asian Tour and Mercedes-Benz Tour. He specifically mentioned Murakami?s work ethics which has become one of his ward?s strengths.

?Artemio [Murakami] was superb from tees to greens all week. Magaling talaga. We were always the last men out of The Country Club after each round. I hope he keeps it up and practice every day at sana hindi siya tamarin,? Mi?oza told Standard Today.