MANILA, Philippines - Team Kia Philippines took home the Champion Team Trophy in the 5th SPMJ Invitational Golf Tournament held recently at the Fontana & Apollon Korea Country Club in the Fontana Hot Springs Leisure Park complex in Clark, Pampanga.
This is the first time that Team Kia took the Champion Trophy which can be permanently kept by a winning team only after winning the tournament three times. Team Toyota and Team BMW have won the championship twice; Toyota in 2004 and 2005 and BMW in 2007 and 2008.
The members of the Kia team were: Boying Soriano, Eric Arpilleda, Chito Davila and Nonoy Tan.
Taking first-runner up for the championship was Team Volvo, the “most-visible team” during the event, with movie celebrity Derek Ramsay, Jr. and his father, Derek, Sr. in the group. Team Volvo was completed by Jaime Puno and Roy Del Rosario, both owners of Volvo vehicles. Derek, Jr. also took home the Champion trophy for Class A.
Team BMW took second runner-up place in the team championship.
Shining their own stars in the SPMJ Cup were champions in the other classes:
CLASS A: Champion, Derek Ramsay, Jr. (Volvo); first runner-up, Chito Davila (Kia); second runner-up, Oscar Gallo (Nissan).
CLASS B: Champion, Yuji Goto (Toyota); first runner-up, Danny Isla (Lexus); second runner-up, Toshiyuki Watanabe (Isuzu).
CLASS C. Champion, Felix Espina (Mitsubishi); first runner-up, Rene So (Lexus); second runner-up, Ryozi Yamazaki (Isuzu).
Guest category: Champion, Gerry Aquino (Media); first runner-up, Quito da Roza (Media); second runner-up, Caesar Azuelo (AGC/Asahi Glass).
Special awards: Longest drive, Jere Fregil (Hyundai); Nearest to the pin, Raymond Rodriguez (Toyota); Lowest gross, Oscar Gallo (Nissan).
SPMJ is a group of motoring editors, columnists and television producers and hosts. For inquiries on the free SPMJ Early Warning workshops, please email pinkycolmenares@yahoo.com, or spmjournalists@yahoo.com.ph.