Eagle, Summit top opener in SL Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Eagle Ridge put on a solid showing with two of its two-man teams dominating Group II for a one-stroke lead in team competition at the start of the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Residential Estates in Davao recently.

Ireneo Arbues and Raymundo del Rosario went on a birdie-binge at the par-72 layout, combining for 91 points in the aggregate format then adding a 50 in best-ball to pool a two-day haul of 141 and win the leg title in Group II.

Teammates Lindsey Salilig and Dante Felizarta made it a 1-2 finish in the same division with a 130 on rounds of 79 and 51 to likewise anchor Eagle Ridge’s 41 points in the Club of the Year race in the three-leg tour organized by real estate firm Sta. Lucia Land.

Summit Point turned in a runner-up finish and a pair of third place efforts for 40 points. Teddy Valenton and Leovigildo led the Batangas-based golfers’ bid in Group III with a 125 (72-53).

“It was a successful first leg. We hope to continue the trend when we head to Cebu in two weeks,” said Vincent Santos, who with Jason Robles, co-chairs the 15th Sta. Lucia Golf Tour co-presented by PLDT, Royale Homes, Readycon, Marriot and OPMC.

Mario Mercader and Maricel Amor scored 69 and 42 for 111 to lift Royale Tagaytay to third with 35 points while Beverly Place stood in fourth with 21 behind Emil Mendoza and Teddy Quizon’s 139 that also netted them second place honors in Group I.

Lakewood, despite fielding in just four players, placed fifth with 21 built around the victory of Eduardo Aberin and Rodel Matias in Group III with 130 (80-50).

Cebu’s Alta Vista was in sixth with 19 points despite Razi Razon’s and Jufil Sato’s win in the premiere Group I division. Rancho Palos Verdes had 16 points followed by Orchard (12) and Caliraya Springs (12), which are all expected to bounce back in the Cebu stop of the tournament backed by Inquirer Golf, Cemex, Mizuno, Empire, golfph.com, Pacsports, Philippine Airlines, Marco Polo Hotel, Steel Asia, Sta. Lucia Ready Mix, Pag-Asa Steel and Pocari Sweat.