Highlands nears WGAP Cup four-peat, turns back rivals

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay Highlands moved in the threshold of a record four-peat in the WGAP Cup as it matched Alabang’s three-point romp in the Best Ball format to keep its 1.5-point lead intact after two legs of the three-stage event at the Orchard’s Palmer course in Dasmariñas, Cavite recently.

Mely Leyeza and Margaret Tan edged Forest Hills’ Jee Cabochan and Nati Toribio, 1-0; Deena Mendiola and Marlene Varua also posted a 1-0 win over Canlubang’s Charo Buencamino and Rosita Laurel; while Veronica Veloso and Dionne Cu dominated Sta. Elena’s Tami Leung and Patty Kohchet-Chua, 2-0, to anchor the Highlanders’ sustained charge in the championship, which pits the top five clubs after the annual eight-leg WGAP Circuit presented by Champion Infinity and sponsored by Meralco.

The three victories made up for Highlands’ Totelle Dimson and Cathy Borja’s 1-2 setback to Alabang’s Connie Moncur and Ner Castillo as the defending three-time champions pooled 6.5 points, including their 3.5-point output in the High-Low format at Mt. Malarayat in the first leg of the championship billed as the country’s women’s version of the Ryder Cup.

Alabang, which scored two points in the opening leg, assembled a five-point aggregate with the Greely Oposa-Jops Melrose and Rachel Shah-Ma. Elena Villanueva tandems delivering the two other victories in Best Ball for Classes B and C players. They disposed of Forest Hills’ Sohan Uy and Lilian Lu, 2-1, and Cangolf’s Janettle Leynes and Debbie Schenk, 1-0, respectively.

Sta. Elena and Forest Hills posted one win each and stayed tied at third with three points while Canlubang came away with two wins in Best Ball for a 2.5-point total heading to the final leg at South Links course in Las Piñas where play shifts to Greensome which will feature Classes A and C players.

The Highlanders are eyeing to cap another grand campaign in the two WGAP events after completing a three-peat feat in the WGAP Circuit behind another dominating campaign, beating Alabang and Canlubang by four points.