Southwoods holds off Del Monte, scores 3-peat

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Southwoods, drawing another superb round from Regine de Guzman, put in a second straight 244 as it repulsed a rallying Del Monte side, 729-726, for a three-point victory and a three-peat in the WGAP-Luzvimin golf tournament at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon yesterday.

De Guzman hardly slowed down from an earlier 59-point burst as she closed out with 58 Molave points, equivalent to four-under par in stroke play, to power the Carmona-based squad to the victory, their third straight that underscored the team’s domination of the annual event among the top golfing ladies from the country’s leading clubs.

Southwoods, which trailed Del Monte by one point in the first round, totaled 729 in the 54-hole championship with De Guzman also matching her team’s three straight title romp with her own three-peat feat in the individual competitions. She had a 168 and beat Aguinaldo’s Matet Salivio, who had a 54 and a 159, by nine points.

First day leader Geleen Handog of Alabang finished third with a 156 after a 52.

Meanwhile, Josie Untal of Aguinaldo, playing alongside Southwoods’ Claire Ong, Christine Naidoo of Alabang and Del Monte’s Pamela Mariano, scored a hole in one on the 136-yard No. 3, using a Callaway X14 7-iron and Titleist 3 Pro V1 ball.

Other scorers for Southwoods were Lora Roberto (51), Beachie Abiera (47), Kat Gonzalez (44) and Claire Ong (44) while Claudine Garcia (41) and Sandy Velhagen (39) didn’t count in the seven-to-play, five-to-count event.

Del Monte drew three 50 points from Pamela Mariano, Apple Fudolin and Eva Miñoza, and two 48s from Kristine Leonen and Kaye Tabanas in a solid final round charge. But the hosts’ 246 total in the day proved short as they settled for second with a 726.

Aguinaldo, with Matet Salivio scoring 54 and Untal adding 49 points, took third place honors with a 713 after a 244 while Alabang came in fourth with 223-685 followed by Wack Wack (176-514), Pueblo de Oro (170-493) and Canlubang (158-483).