Filipino-Japanese tandems rule Fiesta Cup golfest

CEBU, Philippines - Two Filipino-Japanese pairs bagged the top honors in the 1st Fiesta Cup Golf Tournament held at the Mactan Island Golf Club last Friday and Saturday.

The team of Yoshio Yamane and Jun-jun Cabajar bagged the lowest gross honors shooting rounds of 66 and 74 for a four-under-par 140 strokes total.

The lowest net plum was won by Sgt. Cesar Sobrevega and Masaru Naganuma with rounds of 59 and 60 for an aggregate of 119 strokes.

The first round of the tournament was played using the scramble format while in the second day was the alternate stroke format.

Teams were classified based on the average handicap of the players.

The class A title went to Alex Yeo and Kim Kwang Seok with a total of 126 strokes off rounds of 60 and 66. Runner-up honors went to Nestor Cabrera and Clifford Gaite withy 129 (60-69).

Ben Gelbolingo and Rico Tautho topped class B with a total of 120 on rounds of 57 and 63. Runner-up honors went to Elmar Natuel and Anthony Bejar with 122 (57-65).

In class C, the pair of Jun-jun Osmeña and Danny de la Cruz coasted to a 20-under-par 52 strokes on the first day before slowing down on the second with one-under-par 71 strokes for an aggregate of 123 to run away with the title.

Runner-up honors for the class went to Dr. Arsenio Padal and B. Gen. Edgardo Mendoza with 128 (59-69).

Fred Chiong and partner Ike Yap won class D with 126 strokes on rounds of 59 and 67 while runner-up honors went to Joe Mateo and Emilda Yu with 132 (56-76).

Sisters Juily and Rachita Vasandani bagged the ladies’ division title with a total score of 128 strokes on rounds of 62 and 66. Runner-up honors went to Vergie Lou Hwang and Virgie Lampinen with 130 (65-65).

The awards ceremony was held Saturday night at the Budyong Hall of Casino Filipino Mactan.

The tournament, which was held as part of the annual fiesta celebration of Lapu-Lapu City was also meant to support the city’s drive for sports tourism. – THE FREEMAN