Del Monte turned an expected final round shootout with Manila Southwoods-Masters into a victory walk as it dished out its best game—a 194 to reclaim the WGAP Luzvimin golf crown via a 21-point win at Taal Splendido Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas yesterday.
Just four points ahead of last year’s champions after grabbing the lead with a 187 Thursday, the Del Monte ladies saved their best for last as Martina Miñoza and Pamela Mariano carded identical 49 Molave points and Sofia Abarcas and Leslie Icoy scored similar 48 points that underscored the team’s solid scoring.
With a 194, Del Monte finished with a 556 aggregate as the 2016 champions at Rancho Palos Verdes beat Southwoods-Masters, which pooled a second 177 in three days for a 535, by 21 points for the coveted Diamond division trophy.
Yong Mi Kim shot 47 points while Christine Naidoo added a 44 and Loralie Roberto, who scored an ace in the second round on No. 15, and Claire Ong chipped in 43 points apiece for the Carmona-based squad.
Tagaytay placed third with a 521 after a 178 while Villamor-1 shot a 167 for fourth at 499 followed by Pueblo de Oro (131-461), Camp John Hay (151-450) and Palos Verdes (153-404) in the annual event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.
Valley Golf, Camp Aguinaldo and Baguio shared the spotlight by ruling the Emerald, Ruby and Pearl divisions, respectively, in the three-day event sponsored by WGAP, Champion Infinity, San Miguel Corp., Metro Pacific, Eva Air and Alveo Land.
Valley’s Mariel Tee (55-157), Abarcas (48-135) and Jennilyn Floro of Alabang-2 (32-88) took the individual crowns in Class A, B and C, respectively.
Valley, led by Tee’s 55 points, Belinda del Rosario’s 43, Cielo Fregil’s 41 and Joy Sevilla’s 39 points, also put in its best card of 178 to snare the Emerald crown at 487, edging erstwhile leader Negros Occidental, which closed out with a 160 and lost by two with a 485. Southwoods-Legends finished third at 474 after a 156 while Forest Hills-Nicklaus shot a 157 for a 465 for fourth followed by Manila Golf (153-442) and Alabang-1 (150-440).
Aguinaldo, with Mabel Salivio firing 42 points, pooled a 433 from a 150 and roared to a whopping 50-point victory over Villamor-2, which shot a 126 for a 383, with Orchard-1 placing third at 378 after a 125, followed by Alabang-2 (126-370), Bacolod (117-359) and Forest Hills-Palmer (116-359).
Baguio, led by Nanette Filler’s 29 points, struggled with a 96 and wound up with a 308 and nipped Negros Occidental-2 in the countback for the Pearl division honors. Negros rallied with a 101 to likewise end up with a 308 but Baguio took the crown after the tiebreak.
Victorias assembled a 260 after a 91 for third while Orchard-2 made a 50 for a 179.