Malaysians dethrone Pinoys in Asean Srs

GENERAL TRIAS  , Philippines  —   The Philippines saved its best for last. So did Malaysia.

Their backs against the wall, the Filipinos turned in their best output in three days – a 233 – in the final round but the Idris Ngah-led Malaysians proved even better, closing out with a 230 to wrest the centerpiece Stroke Play Team Gross crown from the hosts in the 34th ASEAN Senior Amateur Golf Championships.

Ngah capped his sterling performance in the tournament hosted by the Federation of Philippine Amateur Senior Golfers, Inc. with an even-par 72 at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course to lead Malaysia to a six-stroke victory over the stunned Filipinos.

Dato Dzaamoddin Salleh carded a 75 to back up Ngah while Datuk A.S. Khamis turned in an 83 to help Malaysia to a winning gross of 702.

The Filipinos, who fell by three after two rounds, failed to come up with a strong finishing kick with Rodel Mangulabnan putting in a 76, Eddy Jose Manzanares, a non-factor in the first two days, finally scoring with a 77 and Edgar Quiao adding an 80.

“They really came prepared to win it, especially the Malaysians. I have played with at least two ex-pros and they’re really good,” said Phl top scorer Mangulabnan of Ngah and Co.

Other than Mangulabnan, no other Filipino broke 80 in all three rounds, practically hastening their fall.

“I myself played bad for three days. I thought I was so good that I kept on attacking the pin and ended up three-putting and OBs (out of bounds). I should have respected the course more,” said Mangulabnan.

Don Montenegro, a retired police general who debuted in the annual tourney, gave Phl something to cheer about as he won the Stroke Play Individual Net over Ngah, 207 to 208.

So solid was Montenegro that he placed second to Ngah in Individual Gross category, losing top honors by only three strokes, 222 versus 219.

“We did our best,” said  FPASGI official Lino Magpantay who was a member of the winning team two years ago.

Malaysia also ran away with the Stroke Play Team Net diadem, logging 636 after three rounds for a two-shot win over Singapore.