Alabang hangs tough, keeps WGAP lead

MANILA, Philippines - Alabang came through with a runner-up and third place efforts to negate Tagaytay Highlands’ Class C romp, clinging to a one-point lead in the overall race after the penultimate leg of the Champion Infinity WGAP 2015 Circuit at Tagaytay Midlands Golf and Country Club recently.

The Alabang ladies pooled a 140 to place second to Tagaytay Highlands, which assembled a 150, in Class C with Sta. Elena finishing third with a 134 while the Muntinlupa-based club scored a 140 to end up third in Class B behind winner Sta. Elena, which nipped Forest Hills, 150-149.

Camp Aguinaldo took the Class A crown with a 147, beating Villamor (144) and Sta. Elena (142).

Alabang’s combined three-point haul in Classes B and C matched Tagaytay’s output in winning Class C with the former hiking its overall tally to 23 points, still one point ahead of Tagaytay heading to the final leg of the eight-stage circuit organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines and presented by Champion Infinity at Sta. Elena on Oct. 12.

Sta. Elena made the biggest gain with a five-point take from its Class B win and third place efforts in Classes A and C, staying at fourth with 18 points but just behind the third running Forest Hills with 19.

Aguinaldo also kept its hold of No. 5 with 14 points for a spot in the WGAP Cup featuring the top five teams after the regular circuit sponsored by Shell Philippines, Metro Pacific, Golf Depot, Ping and De La Salle Hospital.

Canlubang is in sixth with 11 points while Valley Golf has nine, Eagle Ridge has four and Orchard and Villamor have three points each.

Mabel Salivio shot 38 Stableford points while Lizbeth Alcantara had 37 and Josie Untal and Arvi Lobangco tossed in 36 points each as Aguinaldo beat Villamor, led by individual winner Josephine Barredo’s 39 points, by three for the Class A plum. Sta Lucia had a 142 and edged Valley and Tagaytay in the countback for third while Alabang placed sixth with a 138 followed by Orchard (131), Eagle Ridge (128), Forest Hills (122) and Canlubang (121).

Jennifer Ligones sizzled with 41, Tami Leung carded a 37 and Amelia Ward and Misako Ogihara had 36 each as Sta. Elena scored a 150 and nipped Forest Hills (149), led by individual champion So Young Lee’s 41 markers, for the Class B crown. Alabang placed third with a 140 followed by Villamor (138), Riviera (136), Tagaytay (131), Canlubang (123), Orchard (118), Aguinaldo (118) and Eagle Ridge (112).

Rosario Dimson shot a 42, Ma. Luisa Jayme made a 40 and Catherine Borja and Erlinda Gamut added 35 and 33, respectively, as Tagaytay Highlands dominated Class C with a 150, 10 points ahead of Alabang, led by Gloria Garcia’s 37. Sta. Elena, behind individual winner Patricia Kohchet-Chua’s 39 points, placed third with a 134. Canlubang finished fourth with a 129 followed by Eagle Ridge (121), Valley (121), Villamor (120), Forest Hills (117), Orchard (112) and Aguinaldo (107).