Ateneo wins golf crown over La Salle

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite — Experience prevailed over youth as Ateneo turned the Fil-Estate Golf Ateneo-La Salle Championship Matches into its own private show when it closed out its campaign in the inaugural staging of the event the way it started it — in emphatic fashion.

The Blue Eagles called on veteran campaigner Iggy Clavecilla to finish off the Archers, and the 56-year-old shotmaker thumped 18-year-old Jenz Tecson, 4 & 3, at the close of the three-day duel at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club here yesterday.

That victory gave Ateneo 21.5 points, the required number to close out the Ryder Cup-style competition which the Blue Eagles dominated with a balanced and talent-laden roster they flaunted right from the start.

The final score stood at 24-18.

Clavecilla’s win, which came on the heels of the victories by teammates Joel Opaco, Louie Dacudao and Anthony Fernando, rendered the rest of the singles matches moot and academic. Opaco whipped Abe Rosal, 3 & 2; Dacudao smothered Raffy Garcia, 6 & 5; while Fernando routed Bobby Celestino, 4 & 3.

"We lost to a better team but we will prepare early for next year," said La Salle’s Freddie Mendoza, who pinched hit for skipper Richie Garcia, referring to next year’s staging of the event at the Manila Southwoods.

The Eagles truly came into the event fully equipped as they built an early 10-2 lead in the first day and brought a huge 17.5-6.5 margin into the final round of the tournament sponsored by Fil-Estate Golf & Dev. Inc., Club Leisure Management Corp., Manila Southwoods Manor and Camp John Hay Manor.

The Archers actually hoped for a big rebound at resumption of the postponed Saturday’s best-ball matches, which ended at 1-1, early Sunday. But the Eagles proved unforgiving and instead swept the four matches to the chagrin of the Archers before Opaco, Dacudao, Fernando and Clavecilla won their respective singles matches to wrap up the series.

Also winning for Ateneo were Jun Jun Plana, who whipped Justin Tambunting, 2 & 1, and Yoyong Velez who beat Abe Avena, 2 & 1.

Tommy Manotoc and Terence Macatangay led La Salle with victories over Mari Hechanova, 5 & 3, and Lino Retuerto, 3 & 1, respectively.