S’woods opens 3-peat bid in Luzvimin golf

Manila Southwoods hopes to come out strong and build some momentum for its bid
for a third straight championship in the WGAP-Luzvimin golf tournament which
fires off  on Sept. 3 at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.
The Carmona-based golfers used a strong start in completing their back-to-back
title romp at the Fairways and Bluewater in Boracay last year, posting an early
24-point lead over Del Monte before cruising to a 51-point victory over Alabang
in the premier Diamond division.
But Southwoods expects a more challenging campaign this time as they go up
against 18 other teams, headed by host Del Monte, out to flash its familiarity
with the tough layout on a team built around Marian Woo, Kristine Leonen, Eva
Minoza and Pamela Soriano.
Regina de Guzman, who keyed Southwoods’ runaway victory last year, is back for
the team as she likewise guns for a third straight victory in the individual
side of the tournament organized by the Women's Golf Association of the Phils.
Joining De Guzman in the Southwoods team are Lora Roberto, Katrina Gonzales,
Beachie Abiera, Claire Ong, Claudine Garcia and Sandy Velhagen.
The other teams seeing action in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format event
are Alta Vista, Bacolod Golf and Country Club, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp John Hay,
Canlubang, Cebu Golf and Country Club, Forest Hills, Mactan Coral, Manila Golf
Club, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Pueblo de Oro, Riviera, Santa
Elena, Tagaytay Highlands, Villamor Golf Club and Wack Wack.
Also up for grabs in the event, played under the Molave scoring system, are the
team titles in Ruby and Pearl divisions and individual honors in Classes A, B
and C.
Villamor, the defending champion in the Ruby division, is headed by Cora
Aguinaldo, Jo Barredo, Marissa Romano, Amelou Juinio, Tet Abad Santos, Vivian
Mawis, Mylene Vinluan Dolonious with non-playing team captain Lydia Reyes.
Alabang, meanwhile, will pin its hopes on Rita Horan, Lorna Tabuena, Marilyn
Reyes and Marjorie Lopinco, while Pearl division winner Riviera is expected to
be led by Gilda Medestomas, Josie Amon, Marty Fernando, Lourdes Roxas and
Raquel Banawa.
Villamor scored a 20-point victory over Cebu Country Club in Ruby division
while
Riviera routed Baguio with a closing 180 for a 63-point romp in Pearl division.(pr)