MANILA, Philippines - Danilo Suarez Jr. showed steady form from tee to green in battling the inclement weather as he wound up with 44 Stableford points to win the Class A crown over a stellar field in the fourth National Final of the world-renowned MercedesTrophy played at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Cabuyao, Laguna.
Suarez, vice president of constructions Inc., gunned down two birdies and 11 pars that cushioned the impact of five bogeys he made at the beautiful Sta. Elena course in spite of the on-and-off rains that hit the one-day tournament organized and hosted by CATS Motors Inc.
Suarez’s victory earned him one of the six limited slots to represent the Philippines in the nine-country MercedesTrophy Asian Final in Brisbane, Australia set Aug. 19-21. The team plays the Hope Island and Glades courses in Queensland and will be billeted at the Hyatt Sanctuary Cove Resort.
Manolo Agojo, president of the Agojo Batangas Corp., ran away with the Class B title with 43 points built around a birdie and nine pars to offset his seven bogeys. Batangas coffee grower and Nuevo Milenio chairman Jose Mercado topped Class C with a 42.
Completing the RP squad were runners-up Service One Corp. president Chino Raymundo (Class A), and executives Larry Chua (Class B), and John Lee (Class C) in the MercedesTrophy which drew 200 of 214 registered Mercedes-Benz owners, sponsors and guests despite the heavy rains two days prior.
Sandy Prieto-Romualdez shot a net 72 via the System 36 format to beat Tagaytay Highlands’ Hedy See’s 74 in the ladies competition. Mikey Ozaeta, playing for Infinity, and Christopher Parker prevailed as champions in the sponsors and guests divisions, respectively.
Aside from handsome crystal trophies, each division champion was gifted with watches from TW Steel. All six players and a country captain will be flown via business class to Brisbane by Philippine Airlines and will be given uniforms from Arrow Shirts and specially-crafted golf bags.
Philippine Airlines presented the event with PLDT Business Solutions, Infinity, TW Steel and Arrow Shirts. Canon Philippines, Coors Beer, Sta. Elena Properties, Seaboard Eastern Insurance, Shangri-La Hotel, Johnnie Walker, Crown Pipes, Business Mirror and Inquirer Golf were co-sponsors.