Orchard clinches Fed League title

MANILA, Philippines - Orchard finally captured its first championship in 18 years after beating Alabang, 7.5-4.5, in their home-and-away duel for the Federation Golf League crown recently.

A big away point delivered by the seniors tandem and an outstanding play by its usual reliables helped Orchard get the best of Alabang in what turned out to be a fun duel among players hanging out in the same two clubs.

Senior players Ryan Abdon and Jun Bae Lee won the greensomes match in Orchard’s 4-2 thumping of their rivals at Alabang that set the tone for the domination with Raymund Sangil and Rodel Mangulabnan proving their worth as the main men for the Orchard side by accounting for two full points each with different partners in greensomes and high-low.

Sangil teamed up with Aian Arcilla for a 4-2 win on the first day and then with Nico Sevilla for a 5 and 4 rout the next day while Mangulaban claimed two blowout wins, the first a 7 and 6 result with JP de Claro and then an 8 and 7 domination with Niko Santiano.

Abdon and Lee surprised JB Garcia and Daniel Roa 3 and 2 in the second greensome match that turned the march around for Orchard in the opening hostilities after de Claro-Mangulabnan got things going for Orchard by making short work of Lorenzo Guerrero and Anthony See. The other combinations used by Orchard captain Francis Montallana – Arcilla-Sangil (greensomes) and Jama Reyes-Liam Cully (best ball) posting 4 and 3 and 2 and 1 wins, respectively, to complete the victory.

Needing just 2 1/2 points in their visit to Alabang the next day, Orchard went all the way.

Mangulabnan and Santiano got to the clubhouse early and the pairs of Sangil-Sevilla (5 and 4) and De Claro-Marvin Caparros (4 and 3) followed suit in greensomes to secure the championship.

“The combinations we used were not too different from the previous ones we played but credit really goes to our seniors who provided the inspiration,” said Montallana of his senior pair which also starred in Orchard’s mastery of Wack Wack in the semifinals.

Alabang, which was seeking its second title since its 2003 breakthrough, won over Valley in the semis.