BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Defending champion Manila Southwoods-Masters took a slim two-point lead over Cebu Country Club Friday in the 10th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (NOGCC).
The Masters collected 278 points from its star-studded lineup, but will need another strong finish on today to win its fifth straight championship.
Sofia Chabon, 14, and Missy Legaspi, 13, led the defending champions with 52 points each while Abby Arevalo added 49. The other scorers were Loralie Roberto 48, Kim Yong Mi 39 and Annika Guangko 38.
“The course condition was hard today,” said captain Marie Claire Ong (30) who, together with Claudine Garcia (34), failed to count.
CCC, which lost by a single point to Southwoods last year in Cebu City, drew a superb 54 points from Lois Kaye Go and 50 from Crystal Faith Neri to stay two shots off the pace.
The 16-year-old Go, who started in the back-nine, made back-to-back bogeys from the 15th hole, but played the next 11 holes at two-under par.
“I played pretty solid today,” said Go.
Neri, a new addition to CCC, had two birdies against four bogeys and a double bogey.
“We’re very happy to hold Southwoods at bay. Frankly, we did not expect to stay in contention,” said CCC skipper Mary Kim Hong who contributed 48 points.
The other CCC scorers were Junia Gabasa 45, Riko Nagai 42 and Ryoko Nagai 35. Failing to count were Menchit Martinez (28) and Josephine Siguan (27).
Lady Eagles Australia took the lead in the Friendship division with 227 points, 27 points ahead of Davao Golf. Third was Apo Golf with 196.
The results:
CHAMPIONSHIP – Manila Southwoods 278 (M. Chabon 52, M. Legaspi 52, A. Arevalo 49, L. Roberto 48, Y. Kim 39) Cebu 276 (L. Go 54, C. Neri 50, M. Hong 48, J. Gabasa 45, Riko Nagai 42)
FRIENDSHIP – Lady Eagles Australia 227 (M. Martin 46, Z. Ticehurst 45, J. Widarma 45, P. Keogh 37, J. Driscoll 27, E. Wong 27), Davao 200 (R. Antivo 37, V. Hermiston 37, E. Quinsay 37, S. Barnes 35, J. Vergara 28) Apo 196 (M. Singson 40, A. Nagayo 39, R. Sara 35, I. Garcia 29, M. Siason 27) Wack Wack 170 (R. Heo 34, M. Kawsek 31, M. Caparros 30, M. Dimson 28, F. Imperial 26) Ilo-ilo 168 (A. Cacho 32, C. Yap 31, K. Cho 28, I. Ladores 28, M. Rivera 25) Pueblo de Oro 162 (M. Carmichael 34, R. Inson 29, C. Jeun Go 27, C. Lastimosa 26, G. Optiz 26) Victorias 151 (C. Arceo 32, C. Capay 27, L. Rizzo 26, M. Mendell 24, C. Mead 22).