Alabang wrests control in WGAP Eagle Ridge leg

MANILA, Philippines - Alabang put on a strong start to  its title-retention drive, topping Class B while churning out third place finishes in two other divisions at the start of the 2016 WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines) Circuit at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite recently.

Forest Hills rode on the crest of its surprise WGAP Cup romp last year and topped Class A while host Eagle Ridge marked its debut in the country’s premier ladies amateur circuit with a resounding victory in Class C.

Luarlene Barclay fired 41 points under the Stableford scoring system while Rachel Shah, Azalea Heredia and Carol Nielsen backed her up with 34, 32 and 31 points as Alabang pooled a 138 to top Class B at the Faldo layout.

The Alabang ladies posted a four-point victory over their counterparts from Tagaytay Highlands, which assembled a 134 on Rosario Dimson’s 38, Marissa Vergara’s 36, Mely Leyeza’s 32 and Mabek Kawsek’s 28.

Villamor, led by Rosalinda Ferreras-Sarte’s 37, scored a 132 and nipped the host club in the countback for third place honors.

Camp Aguinaldo made a 125 for fifth while Canlubang (119), Orchard (108) and Forest Hills (106) took the next three places with Mary Ang of Forest Hills winning the individual plum with 42 points in the opening leg of the annual eight-stage circuit organized and conducted by WGAP.

Forest Hills, which stunned the elite field to snare the 2015 WGAP Cup crown, stamped its class in Class A, pooling a 142 for a six-point victory over Sta. Elena. Alabang placed third with a 135 followed by Orchard (128), Eagle Ridge (127), Tagaytay Highlands (125), Camp Aguinaldo (119) and Canlubang (110).

Tess Staub led Forest Hills’ charge with 40 points and Bebilyn Lobrin, Ma. Consuelo Conti and Nelda Roguel chipped in 36, 35 and 31, respectively, while Rio Co paced Sta. Elena with 37 points and Marilyn Reyes showed the way for Alabang with a 38 and later took the individual crown.