Southwoods-Masters pulls away in Asian Ladies golf

BAGUIO — Manila Southwoods-Masters took a step closer to romping off with the Asian Ladies golf team championship by pooling a solid 132 yesterday and padding its lead to 10 points heading into the final round of the event at the Camp John Hay Golf Club course here.

Skipper Bernadette Abiera scored 42 points under the modified Molave scoring system for the second straight day as she paced the Southwoods-Masters bets’ charge at the rolling par-69 layout.

Claudine Garcia, who led the Carmona-based squad’s first day romp with a 46 Tuesday, struggled with a 37 and did not count this time but Sandy Velhagen and Connie Campo stepped up to fire 43 and 42 points, respectively, for that 132.

Counting its earlier output of 126, the Southwoods-Masters team assembled an aggregate of 258, 10 points ahead of Aguinaldo-Sampaguita, which carded 130 for a 248.

Erstwhile second running Tagaytay Highlands I groped with a 112 and slid to third with a 232, followed by Sta. Elena (119-228), Camp John Hay (111-226), Forest Hills Nicklaus (108-222), Forest Hills Palmer (113-215) and Riviera Ladies (87-183) in that order.

The eight teams are among the 25 squads seeing action in the 54-hole event sponsored by Rudy Project, CJH Development Co., CJH Manor Hotel, Club Leisure Management Inc., Federal Management Maintenance, Inc.

Other backers include Le Chef at the Manor, Fila Sport, Sustagen Premium, Wilson Sports, Golden Nutritious Food Corporation, TSAJ Sales Inc., Palm Garden, Samsonite, Golforce Inc. and Mario’s Restaurant.

Tagaytay Highlands II combined for 111 to likewise retain the Group II lead with 216 while Philippine Axa Life came through with a 94 for a 180 as it dislodged Women’s Professional Golf Teachers Association from the top of the Group III event.

Forest Hills made a 96 for 194 to move from third to second in Group II, followed by Golf Divas 95-188.

The WPGTA squad, the second squad from South Korea, struggled with an 83 for a 176 as it dropped to third place in Group III.

Baguio Country Club wrested second place after shooting 92 for a 178, just two points behind the Philippine Axa Life squad.