Mangio, Poobalan top Lakewood leg of Sta. Lucia Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Mike Poobalan and Mike Mangio of Beverly Place outsteadied their rivals in a tight three-way fight, clinching the victory with a better three-hole windup in the second leg of the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour at the Lakewood Golf and Country Club in Cabanatuan recently.

Following up on a strong runner-up finish in the opening leg last month, Poobalan and Mangio wound up tied with two other teams from the host club – Gov. Oyie Umali-Jonar Austria and Oscar Gallo/Jose Ramirez – on similar 138 totals after the two-day competition that featured the best-ball and scramble.

But their birdie-par-par scores from the 16th gave them the advantage in the countback. 

It was the first time in the tour’s 10- year history that a team from Beverly Place emerged the overall winner.

Umali and the 19-year-old Austria and Gallo/Ramirez settled for the top two spots in Division 1, one of the three divisions dominated by teams from Lakewood which marked its debut as a host venue with a grand welcome by Leticia Uy of the NE Group of Companies, Royce Motors, Corp. and Alsons Insurance Brokers, Corp. 

Danilo dela Cruz-Boyet Aberin led a total domination by Lakewood which took the top four places in Division 3. Hernando Cruz/Rajah Mobin scored a 157 then nipped cousins Vicente Santos and Mickey Tan of Eagle Ridge in the countback for first place.

Rex Armada and Tony Villaruel of Eagle Ridge denied another Lakewood win in Division 2, winning over Roseten Tugaff and Edwin Paras by just a stroke with a 142 aggregate.

Up next for the Sta. Lucia Tour regulars is a trip to Bangkok – subsidized like the three local legs – serving as the third stop on Aug. 23-26. The series winds up at the Alta Vista on Oct. 10-13.

Sta. Lucia Tour executive vice president Teng Santos, who joined Uy and Sta. Lucia marketing chief Mike Robles in awarding the prizes, said they had completed arrangements for the Bangkok leg in two championship courses and one of Thailand’s top hotels.

“We’re all set and everything’s ready for the international leg in Bangkok,” said Santos.

 after presenting the details of the tourney to the players.

Austria won his second title after teaming up with Bong de Guzman for the Division 1 crown at Summit Point.