With Manila Southwoods scoring a double victory in the top flight, Team Surigao led by Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also took top podium by taking the Fil A title of the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament presented by San Miguel last Saturday.
Mon Capistrano took charge of Surigao on the last day as he scored 31 points for the team’s 117 points for 442 and a nine shot win over Summit Point Elite.
This as the young Dan Petil slowed down with a 30 after a two under for 38 on day three, even as Barbers and Lino Magpantay counted with a 29 and 26.
Summit Point closed with a 122 and tied Silicon Valley Links at 431 but still took the higher position after the countback. Manolo Buri’s 26 topped Ramon Ocampo’s 21 to give Summit Point the edge.
This as Yuto Katsuragawa closed with a three under for 39 points and led the Fil team to 146 as Southwoods tallied 570 points and a 19 point win over Royal Northwoods which turned in the best score on the last day of play.
Katsuragawa practically burned the fairways of both courses after starting with a two over for 34 points at the BCC fairways. He, however, waxed hot in the second round as he scored a record three under for 39 at the short and tricky course punctuated with an eagle at the difficult hole 11. With his four under and three under at John Hay, the 17 year old finished with an eye popping eight under for 152 points and a 10 shot win Group 1 and over two team mates: Ira Alido and Kristoffer Arevalo.
Alido, one of the 15 year olders for the team, settled with a one under for 37 and 142 total, edging Arevalo by a point after the latter made an even par for 36.
Another 15-year older Carl Corpus counted for Southwoods with his 34, even as Ryan Monsalve failed to count after a 32.
“With a lead so insurmountable, the boys took it easy and coasted to to victory. We told the boys to take it easy, enjoy the cool air and play stress free,” said captain Thirdy Escano.
“It was by far the most enjoyable round of boys,” added Escano, whose Team Sparta landed fifth in the Am Championship.
Escano likewise said: “We thank the golf gods for a victorious round. We thank Southwoods management for the unqualified support of our Junior golf program.”
Northwoods took the supporting role despite an impressive closing round of 151, thanks most in part to Carlo Gatmaytan who matched the best score of six under for 42 points. Gatmaytan had eight birdies against two bogeys for the score that matched the day three heroics of Jude Eustaquio of Srixon Forest Hills.
Richnell Albano had a two under for 38 points, Richard Joson had a one under for 37 and Carlo Villaroman made a 34 for the team’s seven under performance and 551 total.
After a viral infection that saw him out of action on day two, the country’s top amateur player, Rupert Zaragosa closed with a 37 and with the 35 of Dan Cruz and the pair of 34s from Jude Eustaquio and Luigi Miguel Guerero gave Forest Hills 519 to rally Forest Hills past deposed champion San Miguel by two points for third place.
Jelbert Gamolo paced San Miguel with an even par or 36, while Eddie Bagtas and Aniceto Mandanas carded a similar 35 and GJ Katigbak added a 31 for the former champion.
Mizuno Ecoverde fell to fifth spot after scoring 132 to 514 points, ahead of Team Time Cargo Logistics (126=468) and Che’lus (112=416).
Despite slowing down in the last day of play at the Baguio Country Club, the Am Championship team still padded its lead with a closing 112 for 533 and a whopping win over second ranked Batangas Barakos.
Veteran Jun Plana towed the team with a 31 even as 14 year old Joo Hyung Kim made 29, Lanz Uy with a 28 and Liam Cully added 24 to count for the team which shoit is worst in the four day event after a 150 start.
Batangas Barakos, meanwhile, held off a rallying Forest Hills Palmer for second place settling with a 102 on the 32 of Gary Sales, the 25 of Rudy Amata, the 23 of Michael Mendoza and 22 of Edmund Yee.
Forest Hills got 31 from Bong Brobio, a 30 from Ronnie Littaua and 28 and 22 from Raffy Garcia and Peter Young for a 111 which fell short by one for second place after tallying 444.
In Am A, San Miguel Northern Cement edged Philippine Navy to win. San Miguel closed with a 97 for a 434 total to beat the 430 of the Navy. Team Monterey rallied past John Hay and win by two after trailing by two before the last round.
Green Waters took the Fil B crown after tallying 419 and take an 18 point victory on Baguio Country Club. Ventureslink Robros Jayworkx settled for third.
Camp Aguinaldo romped it off in Am B after holing out with 108 and 412 total. Subic Gas took second honors, 37 shot off the winner. Sultan Kudarat Miners finished third after an 82 and 365 total.
Uragun Golf, meanwhile, had a closing round of 101 for a 397 and a seven shot win in Fil C over Batch 92 which had a 105 for 390. Macquarie Links had a 91 for 360 which is good for third place.
Team Surigao rallied with a 77 for a 349 to beat erstwhile leader Mamala Bay by two in Am C. Mamala Bay submitted a 66 for 340. Rural Bankers fell short by a point in its final push and settled with a 77 for a 339.
In Fil D, TGIS Davao had a closing round of 87 for a 350 and win over Isabela Golf Club – Traders by nine. Dugong Bughaw settled for third place with 332 after a 109.
Batch 92 had a 92 for a 291 and a three shot win over Ventureslink Robros Jayworkx in Am D. Fil-Am League of Golfers – Chicago came in third with 283.
Isabela Golf Club – Traders managed to hold off any challenge despite shooting a last round 78 for a 311 and an eight point win over PhilCan Toronto in Fil E. Summit Point finished third with 299 points.
Ultraflit I coasted to the Am F title after finishing with 65 and 278. PhilAm Toronto took second place (67=260), while Uragun Golf came in third after 256.
