Valley battles Forest; Sta. Elena faces Wack Wack

MANILA, Philippines -  Defending champion Valley takes on Forest Hills while Sta. Elena battles Wack Wack in a power-packed semifinals of current and past titleholders this weekend in the 2015 Men’s Federation Golf League.

The semifinal roster was completed last weekend with Forest Hills and Sta. Elena hacking out contrasting wins to stay on course for another crack at the championship.

Two-time champion Forest Hills forced a draw in its away match against Alabang in a rematch of last year’s finalists, then pulled off a 3.5-1.5 blowout win at home for a 6-4 decision that sent the three-time winner into an all-Antipolo club semis showdown with Valley in the tourney organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Phils. Inc.

Sta. Elena, meanwhile, fielded its strongest lineup in the home game that earned a 4-1 win and cruised to victory in its visit to Mimosa which made it to the playoff rounds for the first time.

A 3-2 win was good enough for Sta. Elena to complete a 7-3 romp and earn a semifinals berth four years after it won its only title in the league.

Sta. Elena will host a well-rested Wack Wack, which earned a bye in the quarterfinals as the second outright semifinalist, tomorrow before the duel moves to Wack Wack Sunday.

Wack Wack is aiming to tie Riviera’s record of four league titles after winning back-to-back in 2011-12 and taking its maiden win in 2001.

Valley clinched its first ever league championship in 16 years when it beat Alabang last year. With victory coming after two close misses in the finals in the past three years (losing to Riviera in 2010 and Wack Wack in 2011), Valley is going for its fourth appearance in the finals in five tries against Forest Hills.