Tagaytay Highlands posts rare WGAP sweep

MANILA, Philippines - In-form Tagaytay Highlands sustained its dominating performance in women’s golf as it scored a rare sweep of three divisions in the WGAP Circuit to seize the overall lead after three legs at Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo recently.

The Highlanders humbled the hosts, 153-151, to clinch the Class A crown, scuttled the Sta. Elena side, 155-152, in Class B then edged their Aguinaldo rivals, 149-148, in Class C to complete the sweep in the 10-to-play, four-to-count event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.

The feat came after Tagaytay Highlands ruled the 2013 Ladies Federation League match play at Midlands to complete a record grand slam in local women’s golf history following its victories in the 2012 WGAP Circuit and the 2012 WGAP Cup.

The sweep, worth nine points, likewise shoved Tagaytay Highlands to the top of the overall race with 17, dislodging erstwhile frontrunner Alabang, which dominated the first leg but struggled for just one point at Forest Hills for 12 points overall.

Rosalie Heo shot 40 points under the Modified Stableford scoring system, Hee Kyung Jung and Eun Sun Lee carded identical 39 points and Nini Eustaquio added a 35 for that 153 in the premier class of the event among the leading women players from the country’s top clubs.

Forest Hills drew 39 points from Violy Pegels, a pair of 38s from Tess Staub and Lily Young and a 36 from Sun Mi Hwang for a 151 while Valley Golf, led by Jocelyn Sevilla’s 37, placed third in Class A with a 141.

Sharing the spotlight were Villamor’s Channel Avaricio, who fired a 39 and nipped Pegels in the countback to clinch the individual title in Class A while Orchard’s Amy Dy took the Class B crown with 47 points and Susan Young Ok Kwon of Valley bagged the Class C plum with 43, nipping Aguinaldo’s Ruby Hamis in the countback.

Mabek Kawsek made a 40, Rosario Dimson had a 39 while Rebecca Albert and Veronica Veloso turned in a pair of 38s to power Tagaytay Highlands to Class B crown with a 155. Sta. Elena got 43 points from Marit Yuchengco while Marilen Bantug added a 37 and Lily Chan and Junko Naruse tossed in two 36s for a 152 while Orchard, behind Dy’s 47 points, finished third at 147.

Deena Mendiola and Marissa Vergara scored two 38s, Betsy Tuason knocked in a 37 and Erlinda Gamut saved a 36 as Tagaytay Highlands assembled a 149 and nipped Aguinaldo by one to cop the Class C title for the sweep.

Hamis had 43 points to power Aguinaldo to second with 148.  Also scoring were Hazel Gabud (38), Lanie Marasigan (34) and  Babie Lagura (33). Alabang finished third from the 40 of Tess Yap, 38 of Joyce Duque and a pair of 34s from Renee Francisco and Bernadette Gundry.