Villamor turns back S’woods, bags Luzvimin title

BACOLOD, Philippines – Villamor leaned on its strong start to fend off a rallying Manila Southwoods I, winning the 2013 Champion Infinity Luzvimin Golf Invitational crown by two at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club layout in Binitin here Friday.

The Villamor ladies slowed down with a closing 170 under the Molave scoring system after an opening 172 but their 342 aggregate proved enough to foil the Southwoods crew for the coveted Emerald Division crown in the annual tournament organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. (WGAP).

Southwoods, which dominated the event for four years but lost the crown to Del Monte in Cagayan de Oro last year, charged back from 10 points down with a 178 but ran out of holes and settled for another runner-up finish at 340.

Villamor’s Harmie Constantino sustained fine form and shot 54 points as she combined with Samantha Martinez, Jo Barredo and Ting Yupangco in bucking tough pin placements and demanding condition to frustrate their Southwoods rivals.

Constantino went on to bag the individual plum in the premier division of the event reduced to 36 holes due to inclement weather. The other members of Team Villamor were Marie Guerrero and Nancy Tsay.

Christine Naidoo and Katrina Gonzalez lead the Manila Southwoods I that included Beachie Abiera, Marie Claire Ong, Claudine Garcia and Sandy Velhagen.

Apo Golf and Davao City Golf Club, on the other hand, ran away with the Ruby and Pearl crowns, respectively, with the former pooling a 151 for a 291 and a whopping 26-point victory over Southwoods II, which had a 265 after a 139.