S'woods seals amazing rally, keeps title

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Southwoods Masters capped its amazing comeback from 32 points down with another solid 143 and ran away instead with a 23-point victory over Del Monte to retain the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies’ Interclub crown at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo yesterday.

Miya Legaspi, who keyed the Carmona-based squad’s rally in the third round with 50 Molave points, closed out with 51, three over par in stroke play at the par-70 Iloilo Golf and Country Club, while Sunshine Baraquiel and Annika Cedo added 48 and 43 points, respectively, to help seal the victory.

Southwoods tallied 520 to keep the crown, completing its fightback from a 32-point deficit after 36 holes behind its three-player wrecking crew in the four-to-play, three-to-count tournament sponsored by Philippine Airlines.

Abby Arevalo, the 12-year-old US Veritas champion, carried the fight for Southwoods in the first two rounds with back-to-back 44s.

But it took Legaspi, Baraquiel and Cedo’s brilliance and steady rounds to overhaul what had seemed to be a big lead into a runaway victory.

Apple Fudolin scored 44, Eva Miñoza made a 43 and Rainstar Roque added a 35 as Del Monte closed out with a final day 125 and 497 overall.

“It was sweet victory for us,” said skipper Beachie Abiera. “We were fortunate to successfully defend the title. The key was our decision to save our best players for the final two rounds.”

Legaspi, a former Junior World and Optimist International champion, had five bogeys and two birdies. Her 101-point aggregate netted her the individual crown.

“I was very comfortable with my swing out there today and was steady on the greens,” said Legaspi.

The Iloilo edition of the PAL Ladies Interclub was sponsored by Airbus, 100 Plus sports drink, Summit Water, Avis Car Rental, Department of Tourism, Crossover 105.1, Radyo5, People Asia magazine and Solar Entertainment.

The PALakbayan sponsors were B/E Aerospace, Boeing International Corp., RMN Networks and Sarabia Manor Hotel& Conventions Center. Donors include Amazing Planet, Century Properties, Diamond Hotel Phils., EDSA Shangri-La, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Print Town/Lexmedia and Tanduay Distillers and Hyatt Hotel & Casino.

In the other divisions, Cebu posted a wire-to-wire triumph in the Founders with a 462 after a 121, beating Alabang (113-432) by 30 points. Villamor finished third with a 426 after a 112.

Tagaytay Highlands pooled a 434 after a 108 for a 58-point romp over Australia, which had a 117 for a 376, in the Sportswriters Division while Bacolod placed third with a 360 after an 80.

Apo Golf ruled the Friendship class with a 360 after an 80, besting Camp Aguinaldo (99-349) by 11 points. Ranchos Palos Verdes came in third at 338 after an 89.