Southwoods grabs leads, nears 3-peat

Manila Southwoods got back at Del Monte behind Regine de Guzman’s brilliant
round of 59 points as it pooled a 244 to wrest a five-point lead heading into
the final round of the WGAP-Luzvimin golf tournament at the Del Monte Golf Club
in Bukidnon, September 4.
De Guzman, chasing her third straight individual title like her team, sizzled
with that superb 59-point output, equivalent to five-under par in stroke play,
as she powered the Carmona-based squad to the lead with a 485 aggregate.
Lora Roberto added 51 points while Claudine Garcia and Beachie Abiera each had
45 points and Kat Gonzales tossed in 44 points in the seven-to-play,
five-to-count format event played under the Molave scoring system.
Claire Ong and Sandy Velhagen failed to count with 41 and 36 points,
respectively.
But De Guzman and the four other Southwoods’ ladies rounds were enough to propel
the defending back-to-back champion to the lead and within 18 holes away from
wrapping another championship in the annual event organized by Women’s Golf
Association of the Phils.
Del Monte drew 54 points from Kristine Leonen while Eva Minoza and Apple Fudolin
slowed down with identical 49 points after shooting a 51 and 53 in the first
round which they led with a 242 aggregate. Pamela Mariano and Kaye Tabanas added
45 and 41 points for the hosts, who assembled a 238 for a 480.
Aguinaldo, behind Matet Salivio’s 54 points, moved up to third with a 467 after
a 236 while Alabang slid to fourth with a 462 after a 230 followed by Wack Wack
(174-338), Canlubang (167-325) and Pueblo de Oro (161-323) in that order.
De Guzman, four points behind Alabang’s Geleen Handog after the first round,
surged ahead by six with a 110 with Handog dropping to second with a 104 after a
49. Leonen climbed to third with a 103 after a 54 in a tie with Salivio while
Fudolin tumbled down to fifth with a 102.
Sta. Elena, with Therese Dabao and Rio Co firing 49 and 40 points, respectively,
shot a 198 as it seized control in Ruby division with a 385 for a whopping
15-point lead over Negros Occidental, which tied Sta. Elena in the first round
at 187 but sputtered with a 183 for a 370.
Tagaytay Highlands remained in third with a 365 after a 186 while Alta Vista
made a 191 for a 349 for fourth followed by Camp John Hay (188-349) and Cebu
Country Club (166-337).
Forest Hills, led by Violy Pegels’ 41 points, pooled a 180 for a 363 as it kept
a four-point lead over a charing Villamor, which had a 359 after a 183 as Jo
Barredo and Marissa Romano fired 48 and 47 points, respectively.
Bacolod stood in third with a 349 after a 177 followed by Mactan Island
(167-316), Manila Golf (156-305) and Riviera (143-286).(pr)