Wack Wack pulled off a rare victory at home but Sta. Elena and Forest Hills came away solid finishes to press their respective charges in the overall race after six legs of the 2018 WGAP Circuit at WW West Course in Mandaluyong City recently.
The hosts broke a run of winless campaign by ruling Class B on a 150 with Andrea Dy Buncio firing 39 Stableford points, and Jay Crisologo, Sophia Araneta and Monique Arroyo adding 38, 37 and 36 points, respectively, as they edged their rivals from Forest Hills (148) and Sta. Elena (147).
But the Sta. Elena side struck back in Classes A and C which they ruled via a pair of one-point escapes, both over Forest Hills, in what proved to be the most tightly fought leg in the annual tournament organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.
Sta. Elena, behind Candice Yulo and Caret Ricamonte’s 36 and 35 points, respectively, and a pair of 32 points from Rio Co and Marit Yuchengco, pooled a 135 and nipped Forest Hills (134), paced by Grace Cho’s 36 points, by one with Canlubang claiming third place with a 131 in the premier class of the event among thea leading golfing ladies from the country’s top golf clubs.
Tagaytay came in fourth with a 131 followed by Villamor (130), Eagle Ridge (115) and Camp Aguinaldo (103) with Alabang’s Joan Morales bagging the individual crown in Class A with 39 points.
Sta. Elena, behind Nancy Co’s 37 points, Barbara Park and Cheese Ong’s identical 33 points and Mary Jane Ishihara’s 32 points, also scored a 135 and foiled Forest Hills, led by Bernadette Jalosjos’ 38 points, again by one for the Class C plum with Alabang taking third place with a 133 followed by Tagaytay Highlands (131), Villamor (125), Canlubang, Eagle Ridge and Camp Aguinaldo, which both assembled 122s, Wack Wack (118) and Orchard (100). Ellen Chua of Wack Wack took the individual crown with 38 points.
Forest Hills’ Mi Jin Lim bagged the individual title in Class B with Villamor ending fourth in team play with a 139 followed by Tagaytay (135), Alabang (120), Camp Aguinaldo (112), Eagle Ridge (110) and Orchard (109).
Sta. Elena and Forest Hills’ impressive finishes likewise tightened the race for the overall plum heading to the last two legs of the eight-stage circuit at Canlubang’s North course on Sept. 10 and at Forest Hills on Oct. 8.
Despite its so-so campaign in three divisions, Villamor held sway with 19 points but Sta. Elena surged to second with 16 points, Aguinaldo stayed in the hunt despite slipping to third with 15 points while Forest Hills tied Tagaytay at fourth with 13 points and Alabang is in fifth with 10 points.