BAGUIO CITY – Manila Southwoods literally took a leisurely walk to the top podium closing out with a flight best 122 even with two of its members down with illness that one did not play to claim its seventh straight title in the center piece Fil Championship of the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Baguio Country Club golf course on December 18.
And it is again a double celebration for the Carmona, Cavite squad as the Am Championship team also won at the Camp John Hay golf course.
Make that a triple celebration for the tournament’s most decorated team as Aguri Iwasaki took the top individual plum a day after his birthday.
On a day when surprise top man Lanz Uy woke up with a fever that made him weak to lift a club and its youngest member, Sean Ramos, had diarrhea, Southwoods played a four man team for a closing round of 122 for 546 aggregate and a 55 point victory.
Taisei Shimizu led Southwoods with 34, Iwasaki had 32, while Aidric Chan improved to 31 and Uy managed a measly 25 for another dominating performance for the team.
“These are very talented kids and they will surely adjust the next day. But then, some of them are just really sick,” said team captain Thirdy Escano, who actually stopped counting the trophies of Southwoods which started playing in 1997.
“Uy could have done better. He thrives in this course. But then he is very underrated,” said Escano of his surprise top gun, who took the CJH course with a eight under, including what could be a best seven under on day two. He led the squad on day three with 33.
His fever cost him the individual plum which went to Iwasaki, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Dec. 17. Aguri finished with 140 points, two better than Uy (138) and another two on compatriot Shimizu (136).
Forest Hills managed a 111 for a 491, just two off Royal Northwoods as the two settled for second and third places, respectively.
Forest Hills was paced Rocky Co with 31, while Inigo Raymundo, Dan Cruz and Jude Eustaquio counted with 29, 27 and 24, in that order.
Stephen Sul is the only player to break par with his 36 points to lead Northwoods to 114. Backing him are Nik Gatmaytan with 28, Joaquin Hernandez with 27 and Gido Mandanas with 21.
Team Time Cargo had 93 with former Southwoods stalwart Junjun Plana leading with 28 points. The team finished with 448 points.
Josh Jorge closed out a 36 to lead Southwoods Am squad with 119 and 463 total for a 29 point victory in Am Championship.
Also counting for Southwoods are: Jeff Jung and Masaichi Otake with 28 and Santino Laurel with 27.
Ricky delos Santos led Batangas Barakos to 110 and 434 aggregate to bag second place, nine off Forest Hills which had 117 for 423. Islander Mizuno finished fourth with 407 after a 107.
Meanwhile, Ventureslink -Robros Jayworx took the last day like a walk in the park nearly matching its day three total with an 88 for 397 total and a 13 point victory in Fil B.
Baguio Country Club had a great escape after being outscored by Summit Point Golf and Country Club 88-87 in the last day of competition but still took the bridesmaid trophy with its 384 against the latter’s 383.
In Am B, Joseph Oliver Uy led a vicious fourth round attack and scored 30 to pace X1R Mizuno’s scorching closing round of 113 to tie third round leader Srixon with 382 points. But Mizuno took the champion’s trophy through countback when its fifth man, Raymond Co, who did not count, outpointed Srixon’s fifth, Bart Borja 21-15 to give the former the top podium.
Srixon had a closing round of 103 tot ake second place, while Crown Legacy fell short of its own rally scoring 110 for a 381 total.
Royal Northwoods – El Masfino closed with an 88 for a 380 aggregate and a 13 poijnt victory in Fil C. Dugong Bughaw finished second with 367 after an 80, while Ultraflite Golf Club I is third with 358 after an 82.
Mountaineers Gol Team II had a 103 final round for an even 400 and a 25 point victory in Am C. BCC, meanwhile, overtook co-host John Hay when it scored a flight best 110, ironically at the latter’s home course, for 375 and a 10 point margin. John Hay had a closing round of 91 for 365.
K&G MGC closed with an 81 for a 360 aggregate to win Fil D by 27 points. Macquarie Links Sydney finished second with a 333 after a 75, and a seven shot margin on third placed Team Integral which closed with a 70.
Central Florida / VST had a closing round of 93 for 338 points to move past Team Surigao for the top podium. Surigao managed an 86 for a 335 to settle for second place, while Cool Jocks had 87 for 329 which is good for third place.
Islander Mizuno had a 66 and 330 total for a 17 point victory in Fil E. Razcals I suffered a two point penalty but was comfortably lodged at second place with 313. At third is Tieza Club Intramuros Golf Course A with 302 after a 66.
Tieza Club Intramuros never gave up the lead and even was penalized twice but still managed to win with 267, seven off Uragun Golf which finished second with 260. Macquarie Links Sydney finished third with 248.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo – The Fil Championship team of Manila Southwoods that won the title for a record seven straight years by a whopping 55 points pose in front of the Baguio Country Club. From left: team captain Thirdy Escano, Aidric Chan, Sean Ramos, individual champion Aguri Iwasaki, Taisei Shimizu and Lanz Uy. Fil-Am Media Photo