Highlanders rebound, cop 2 WGAP titles

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay Highlands, winless in the last two legs, rebounded with victories in Classes B and C while Alabang reigned supreme in Class A in the sixth leg of the 2014 Champion Infinity WGAP Circuit at the Manila Southwoods’ Legends Course in Carmona, Cavite recently.

Mely Leyeza sizzled with 47 Stableford points while Lilibeth de Villa, Mabek Kawsek and Maripaz Domingo backed her up with 40, 39 and 38 points, respectively, as the Highlanders pooled a 164 to beat their Sta. Elena rivals, who had a 147, by whopping 17 points.

Orchard made a 146 and nipped Forest Hills and Alabang in the countback for third place while Aguilnaldo wound up sixth with a 145 followed by Riviera (143), Villamor (135), Canlubang (131) and Southwoods (114) in the event presented by Champion Infinity and sponsored by Meralco.

Gina de Guzman, Jennie Ligones, Marilen Bantug and Junko Naruse shot 39, 37, 36 and 35 points, respectively, for Sta. Elena, while Myrna Sutherland churned out 40 points and Lily Yoshino, Leanne Zuniega and Maisa Catindig added 37, 35 and 34 points, respectively, for Orchard.

Tagaytay Highlands, which could only post a runner-up finish in Class B in the Forest Hills stage, and second and third places in Classes C and B, respectively, in the Orchard leg, drew 37 points each from Joji Bautista, Betsy Tuason and Erli Gamut while Dionne Cu added a 36 as it assembled a 147 to post a four-point victory over Forest Hills, which made a 143, in Class C.

Aguinaldo placed third with a 137 while Sta. Elena shot a 136 for fourth followed by Villamor (134), Canlubang (130) and Alabang (104) in the tournament organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. (WGAP).

Alabang, meanwhile, regained the Class A crown it won in the Tagaytay Midlands leg last June as Marilyn Reyes fired 43 points, Lorna Tabuena shot a 42, and Lan Fen Hsieh and Rita Horan chipped in 38 points apiece for a 161 and a five-point win over Manila Southwoods.

The hosts got 40 points from Marie Claire Ong, a pair of 39s from Florence Okiyama and Hyun Joung Back and a 38 from Sophia Ysabel Blanco for a 156 while Highlands settled for third with a 145 followed by Villamor and Sta. Elena, which scored identical 143s, Valley (139), Forest Hills (133), Canlubang (129), Orchard (123) and Aguinaldo (118).

Highlands’ Sofia Kim, meanwhile, took the individual crown in Class A with 42 points while Aguinaldo’s Janette Agripa, who turned in 41 points, and Forest Hills’ Nati Toribio, who punched in 39 points, copped the Classes B and C plums with Forest Hills adjudged as the best in uniform.