Luisita Golf and Country Club relied on veteran Abraham Rosal to rule the Fil Championship and deny bitter rival Manila Southwoods a sweep of the premier flight in the 74th Januarius Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Camp John Hay golf course here Wednesday.
Rosal carded 34 points a two-over, Benjie Sumulong carded a 30, Damasus Wong and Ferdie Barbosa had 29 and 28 points, respectively, as Luisita tallied its second straight 121 and outscore the tournament’s most successful team for the title.
Veteran Junjun Plana led Southwoods with 31, Raul Minoza and Judd Roy III had similar 28 and Manfred Guanko chipped in 27 for the teams 114 and 443 total.
It was a head on from day one for the top 2 squads with Riviera Golf settling for third after a 111 and 431 points.
Southwoods marched to the Am Championship after closing out with 85 points and 412 total, nine off, or a two point improvement on its third day, on Srixon SRI, while Greenwater Seniors improved to 395 after an 88 to take the last podium.
On a rainy Wednesday morning that delayed games and even cancelled some flights, Joseph Tambunting scored 23, while Thirdy Escano and Monet Garcia churned in a pair of 21 and Ryan Abdon chipped in a 20 to count for the team that won another title in an already stacked up trophy room of the Carmona, Cavite squad.
Francis Telan top scored for Srixon with 26, Steve McDonald forged a 21, while Demetrio Saclut and August Cruz added a pair of 18.
Greenwater Seniors had the flight best score with 88on the 25 of Ernesto Lim, the 23 and 22 of Douglas Puckett and Roland Punzalan, respectively, and the 18 of Sunny Fontilea.
Camp John Hay 2 officially walks home with the title in Seniors Am A with a closing round of 86 and 393 points, 37 off The Young Ones and another 16 on BIBAK NY/NJ Igolfers USA.
Meanwhile, games in Fil B and C were cancelled yesterday due to strong rains, even as the earlier flights continue despite being interrupted.
In a post, the Fil-Am golf committee announced: “Due to the imminent threat of darkness caused by the rain delays, we regret to inform you that the 4th Round for the following divisions is canceled: Seniors Flight “B” and Seniors Flight “C”” It added: “These divisions will therefore be reduced to a 54-hole competition.” It further said: “Upon resumption, players will be allowed to lift, clean, and place their balls throughout the General Area, within 1 scorecard length and no nearer to the hole.”
Games in Am B and C, however, were completed in the Baguio Country Club with MCG Mimosa taking the Am B crown by 18 points.
It shot a closing round 71 for 344, followed by Waterlympics Pampanga which closed out with 67 for 326 and Forest Hills Palmer with 314 after a 66.
In Am C, Project Lazarus held off co-host BCC 2 287-286 after closing out with 63 against the 64 of the latter. Team Na Koa landed third with 272 after a 54.
In Fil D, Kalabaw Megafiber had a closing round 81 for a 286 and edge overnight leader Fil-Am Oahu 1 by a single mark. The Hawaiians had a four round 284, just one off Mountaineers which had a similar 78 and 283.
Davao Eagle Masters 2 stayed a hot late charge of Melbourne – Australia but won by four. Davao closed out with 62 and 259, while the Aussies finished with a 70 less the two point penalty for 254 and four shots off another Aussie team, Macquarrie Links Sydney 2 which closed with a 64 and 250.
Macquarrie Links was actually tied with Sandigan 82 2 but the former had a fifth man who scored seven while the latter had a four man team in the last round.
CaliPhil Hawaii closed out with a 73 and a 236 for an eight point victory in Seniors Fil E. The team started just a point off but outscored the latter 73-66 in the last round. Korea Morning Calm settled for third after scoring 64 and 226. Sandigan Golfers 2 won Am E by 10 points over Fil-Am Oahu Golf 2.
Sandigan had a last round 52 and 210, while Sandigan made 55 for 200. Green Canyon fell to third place after a 44 and 196 total. Team Foretee won the Regular Fil F title with 285 (65), 17 off City of Pines, which nipped TIEZA – Club Intramuros 2 which was leading the locals by a point after the third round. By Fil-Am Golf Media Release
