Forest Hills hangs tough, nears WGAP Cup crown

MANILA, Philippines – Forest Hills dominated the High Low format then held its ground in Best Ball to pool five points and keep a half-point lead over Aguinaldo after two legs of the WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines) Cup.

The Antipolo-based squad took charge of the five-team field, the top finishers in this year’s WGAP Circuit, with a three-point output in High Low in the first leg of the three-stage event at Summit Point featuring Class A and B players.

The Forest Hills bets then pulled off a gutsy two-point output in Best Ball at Southlinks for classes B and C players to cling onto the overall lead heading to the deciding Greensome format featuring A and C players at Orchard.

The event is  organized and conducted by WGAP and presented by Champion Infinity.

Aguinaldo scored 2.5 points at Summit then matched Forest Hills’ output at Southlinks to assemble 4.5 points while Sta. Elena rebounded from a 1.5-point effort in the first leg with a 2.5-point production in the next to stay in the title hunt with four points.

Alabang, which ended Tagaytay Highlands’ three-year reign by winning this year’s WGAP Circuit, struggled in High Low with just one point but bounced back with a 2.5-point feat in Best Ball for a 3.5-point total.

 Alabang, the defending four-peat WGAP Cup champion, made two points at Summit but was clobbered at Southlinks to trail the field with three points heading to the deciding Greensome format for A and C players.

Forest Hills’ Tess Staub and Monique Ignacio won over Alabang’s Marilyn Reyes and Chinky Shah; Grace Atienza and So Han Uy beat Tagaytay’s Nini Eustaquio and Lilibeth De Villa; while Cristina Lava and Beth Valen dominated Aguinaldo’s Arvin Lobangco and Lanie Marasigan, 6 and 4, in High Low.

Aguinaldo, with Josie Untal and Edlyn Robas edging Jocelyn Garcia and Lee Heredia of Alabang; and Mabel Salivio and Nitz Salivio holding off Tagaytay’s Karen Buenaventura and Deena Mendiola via similar 3 and 2 scorelines; and Lizbeth Alcantara and Leni Cabili battling Sta. Elena’s Jennifer Ligones and Amy Ward to an all-square match, stayed within striking distance with 2.5 points.

Tagaytay settled for two points on victories by Rosalie Heo and Totelle Dimson over Alabang’s Eun Sil jang and Arlene Barclay (1-up), and Sofia Kim and Mabel Kawsek over Sta. Elena’s Carina Ricamonte and Marilen Bantug (4 and 3).