Isedenio scores double for Negros

ANTIPOLO — Jose Isedenio fired an eagle-aided four-under par 66 yesterday to power Negros Occidental to a record sweep of both the individual and team crowns at the close of the 15th Uratex National Caddies Championship at Valley’s Executive Course here.

Isedenio’s eagle-3 on the ninth hole spiked his fiery start of 32 as he dashed the hopes of Rene Menor of Iloilo and Jomar Pepito of the host club early on en route to clinching the individual honors with a five-under 275 aggregate.

He finished eight shots better than Menor, who slowed down with a 70 for a 283 while Apo’s Elmer Saban matched Isedenio’s closing output to tie Pepito, carding a 69, for third with identical 284s.

With the individual title worth P75,000 in gift certificates and a television set virtually tucked under his belt after nine holes, the 47-year-old Isedenio, playing out of Marapara in Bata, Bacolod City, made sure to steer the team to the victory by coming up with clutch birdies at the back.

"Nung naka-eagle ako nung ninth hole, alam ko na akin ito," said Isedenio. "Kaya nung alam kong champion na ako, ‘yung team naman ang inisip ko kasi naramdaman ko na wala ng pressure."

True enough, Isedenio came through with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 as Negros Occidental rallied from behind to foil the host team, which led in the second and third rounds.

The Negrenses pooled a winning 860 to beat Valley’s 864 total, marking the first time in 15 years that the individual and team champions came from one club.

Julieto Espuerta matched par 70 while either Rodrigo Marabe Jr. or Robert Malaga’s 73 counted for Negros Occidental, which bagged the Robert Go Cheng Cup, the P75,000 purse and a television set for each member.

Alvin Mejares succumbed to pressure and dropped two strokes on the final hole for a 72 while Antonio Locanes had a 73 for Valley.

Apo slid to third with an 867 followed by Iloilo and Bacolod wound up fourth and fifth with 869 and 875, respectively.

Rounding up the top 10 were Wack Wack (884), Lumbia (886), Mt. Malindang (891), Mactan Coral (904) and Davao Golf (905).

Meanwhile, Canlubang’s Teresa Carpio captured the ladies’ crown via the backdoor with a final day 78 to close out with a 245 and edge erstwhile solo leader Susana Delfino of Kagitingan.

Delfino cracked up at the close of this P2-million tournament held in memory of its founder Robert Go Cheng with an 87 for a total of 249 as she settled for second place.

Nilda Borja finished third with a 260 followed by Miriam Borlaje of Manila Southwoods (262), Gladys Briones of Eastridge (263), Ana Borlaje of Manila Southwoods (265), Wendy Sator of Eastridge (267), Babylyn Lobrin of Forest Hills (267), Terry Parala of Canlubang (267), and Che Che Burlas of Mactan Coral (268) in that order.