Southwoods pulls off 4-peat in Luzvimin golf

BACOLOD, Philippines  – Manila Southwoods closed out with a second straight 223 to thwart Del Monte for the second straight year and annex a record four straight championships in the WGAP Luzvimin golf tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here Friday.

Sunshine Baraquiel capped a superb 54-hole, above 50-point performance with 53 Molave points while Regine de Guzman and Lora Roberto provided solid backup with 48 and 47 points, respectively, as the Southwoods ladies totaled a 681 to beat Del Monte by nine points in the centerpiece Diamond division.

Marie Claire Ong and Bernadette Abiera added 41 and 34 points, respectively, as Southwoods, which earlier pooled a 235 and 223, extended its reign that started here in 2008 before dominating the field in Boracay and Del Monte.

Lovelyn Guioguio and Apple Fudolin shot identical 51 points for Del Monte’s 227 but the 13-point deficit proved too much to overcome as the Bukidnon-based squad settled for another runner-up finish with a 672. Other scorers were Eva Miñoza (47), Pamela Mariano (42) and Taj Kay Tabanas (36).

Mactan Island, led by Rachel Burlas-Darnel’s 44 points and the 42 by Geraldine Ash, placed third with a 479 after a 158 while Victorias shot 122 and wound up fourth with a 403 followed by Davao City Golf (137-393), Davao Apo (110-359) and Baguio (98-312).

Baraquiel, a member of the ICTSI golf team, also ran away with the individual title with a 156, which included a 51 and 52, as she ended De Guzman’s three-year reign in the annual event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Sta. Elena saved its best for last and pooled a 185, completing its fightback from third place to retain the crown in the Ruby category with a 541. With Therese Dabao firing 47 points, Tami Leung and Lota Nemec shooting identical 36 points, and Rowena Royena and Rio Co adding 34 and 32 points, respectively, Sta. Elena edged two-day leader Negros Occidental by just two points.

The hosts lost their steam with a 172 for a 539 with Gaby Monfort scoring 46 and Jocelyn Garcia, Maita Lustre, Joanne Reyes and Joan Rojas putting in 35, 32, 30 and 29, respectively.

Camp John Hay came in third with a 498 after a 170, nipping Alabang (159-498) in the countback while Tagaytay placed fifth with a 451 after a 122, followed by Wack Wack (136-422) and Canlubang (129-404).

Bacolod took the Pearl division crown with a 513 after a 163, beating Riviera by 24 points. Cara Golez shot 45 points and Farah de Asia, Jocel Pagunsan, Myeong Ok Cho and Pinky Silva added 36, 34, 38 and 20 points, respectively.

Riviera made a 154 for a 489 while Villamor ended up third with a 433 after a 139 followed by last year’s winner Forest Hills (144-423), Armed Forces of the Phils. (135-420) and Manila Golf (132-401).

Ash bagged the individual plum in Class A with a 116, two ahead of Lustre. Riviera’s Beth Salazar copped the Class B diadem with a 106 after a 37, also edging Videlyn Torralba of Alabang (35) by two. Davao City Golf’s Rosalie Antivo shot a 34 for a 112 and won the Class C title.