Tabuena tops Class A in Alabang golf tourney

Luigi Tabuena tallied a net two-under-par 70 on a gross of even-par 72, then nipped Manuel Espaldon in the countback for the Class A plum in the recent Chairman’s Cup golf tournament - a prelude to the much-awaited Mango Tee 2003 - at the Alabang Country Club course.

Max Paca, Lauro Abano, Leopoldo dela Cruz, Rolando Carlos and Dina Chuidian joined Tabuena, who banked on his three birdies against Espaldon’s two, in the roster of winners as members of Alabang got a glimpse of the playing conditions for the 19th edition of the Mango Tee on Feb. 6-9. Paca netted a 60 against the 63 of John Kenneth Ocampo in Class B, Abano edged Jesus Fargas by one after a 65 in Class C, dela Cruz was another countback winner over Manuel Quijano in Class D. Carlos won the seniors plum over Henry Hagedorn and Dina Chuidian beat Coralyn del Rosario for the ladies division.

The 18-hole tourney was held in honor of Godofredo "Jun" Galindez Jr., chairman of the ACCI board.

Meanwhile, the sponsorship roster for the Mango Tee was recently unveiled with Smart Communications, Mitsubishi Motors, Makati Skyline, TaylorMade adidas, Standard Chartered and Turf Co. as major backers.

Hole sponsors are Fedex, Nestle, Pepsi, Security Bank/Diners Club, Acro Industrial, Beneficial-PNB Life Insurance, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., Cocolife/Direct Link, Directories Phils., Friend of Mango Tee, Gainers Marketing, GG&A Club Shares, Inc., Golforce Inc., Green Cross, Inc., Golfers Clubshares, Inc., Haji Andi Tabusalla, Hyundai Ortigas, Joseph Rice Mill, Maisog Engineering, Natropin Anti-Aging and Rejuvenation Program, Pilipinas Shell, Prudential Life Group, Supreme Construction, T&C Construction, The Bellevue Manila, True Value, YKK Zipper, Inc. and Ciclo Mondo. Mitsubishi and Yamaha are providing the hole-in-one prizes.

Division honors will be disputed by 256 teams, with the ACCI board (president Farley Ampil, vice president Fernando Ibazeta, treasurer Gilbert Martires, corporate secretary Pablo de Borja and directors Fernando Balatbat, Jose Cervantes, Jose Laurel V and Virgilio Yuzon) set to show up in full force.

With tournament preparations already in check, off-course arrangements are being ably handled by Cynthia Matias, membership division manager.