Southwoods cops Fed League title

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Southwoods nipped Tagaytay Highlands, 3 and 1, in a classic home-and-away final round at Masters course to claim the 2012 Ladies Federation of Golf Club League crown with an overall score of 4.5 to 3.5 in Carmona, Cavite.

Claudine Garcia and Heidi Schetkatt engineered a 6 and 5 romp off Rosalie Heo and Gie Bote in the best ball format followed by the 3 and 2 victories by the duos of Claire Ong-Nini Samaniego and Mia Legaspi-Lita Jumalon in the aggregate and hi-lo to give Manila Southwoods its second Fed League crown.

The Lady Highlanders actually went up 2.5 to 1.5 against Southwoods in the first round of the finale at the former’s home course in Tagaytay and needed just two wins at the Manila Southwoods’ lengthy Masters layout toughened further by the summer heat and fast greens.

However, Tagaytay Highlands’ only success came via the first flight-greensome format when junior golfer Marvi Monsalve and veteran Lilibeth de Villa defeated the pair of Sandy Velhagen and Christine Naidoo.

Tagaytay Highlands’ Farrah Imperial and Olive Yoon won the best ball at home over Garcia and Yvette Ilagan while Sandy Prieto Romualdez and Dianne Lee won 5 and 4 over Velhagen and Naidoo.

The Garcia and Schetkatt tandem quickly went 2 up on pars on the first two holes. Though it reeled back on the fifth, it went 4 up after nine holes as they parred Nos. 6, 7 and 9 as against the bogeys of Heo and Bote. They clinched it with a birdie on the 13th hole.

That set the tone for the Legaspi-Jumalon and Ong-Samaniego to finish off what they started.

“It’s a sweet win considering that we were underdogs from the beginning of the league. We did not expect to reach the finals but I’m glad that we did. It’s been made sweeter with the title,” said Beachie Abiera, one of Southwoods’ captains including Ong and Samaniego.

Abiera said that Southwoods got through the semis through the eye of the needle, thanks to a 15-foot putt from Samaniego to clip Alabang on the third playoff hole and the right to face Tagaytay Highlands.

“Nini really made a difference this year. She towed us to the finals and then helped us achieve the plum with her great partnership with Ong,” Abiera said.

Tagaytay Highlands played their hearts out, too, although they ran out of holes when they made their rally in the last five holes.

“We’re going to be better next year. We’ll go get it (crown) in 2013,” said Highlands co-captain Imperial.