Gonzales clinches MercedesTrophy

MANILA, Philippines - Dennis Gonzales churned out a gutsy 38 Stableford points on a tough scoring day at the Sta. Elena Golf Club course to capture the Class A crown in the ninth MercedesTrophy National Final in Cabuyao, Laguna.

With the sizzling summer heat battering the field, Gonzales, a trader, countered with a cool short game and superb putting to beat executive Marvin Caparros by one stroke.

Gonzales’ win earned him a spot in the Philippine team, headed by CATS Motors president Felix Ang, in the Asian final of the MercedesTrophy, now on its  25th year worldwide.

Wilbert Tan topped Class B with 46 points, five up on Manuel Sy in the tournament sponsored by PLDT Alpha, Shell V-Power Nitro, QBE Seaboard, Makati ShangriLa, IZOD and TW Steel.

Alfredo Abarintos shot 44 to rout Edwin Costes’ 37 in Class C while businesswoman Leah Holder made a net 72 in the Systems 36 scoring to run away with the ladies division plum.

Gonzales, Tan, Abarintos, Holder and runners up Caparros, Sy and Costes – each received a crystal trophy, a golf bag and a team TW Steel watch –  will fly to Australia on business class tickets via official carrier Philippine Airlines.

It would be the second time for Tan and Costes to represent the country. The other two-time winners are Manny Angeles and Ricardo Bernabe.

Singaporean Expat Eric Heng of Pilipinas Shell had a 71 to bag the sponsors’ category.