Sta. Elena pulled off a pair of victories in varying fashions and finished third in the other in a dominating show at Manila Southwoods that shoved the team past erstwhile joint leaders Tagaytay Highlands and Villamor halfway through the 2019 Champion WGAP Circuit in Carmona, Cavite recently.
Behind Carmela Lee and Rio Co’s identical 43 Stableford points, Therese Dabao and Carina Ricamonte’s 42 and 39 points, respectively, the Sta. Rosa, Laguna-based squad assembled a 167 to beat Alabang (165) and Fernando Air Base (162) for Class A honors.
Sta. Elena’s Class C team followed up its triumph in the third leg at Tagaytay last month with an eight-point romp over Alabang as Surlianti Walker sizzled with 46 points, Calene Ong and Maria Ymir Oliquino carded identical 43 points and Nancy Co added 41 points for a 173. Alabang made a 165 while Forest Hills placed third with a 164.
With its Class B side finishing third behind winner Fernando Air Base (176) and Manila Southwoods (169), Sta. Elena racked up a tournament-best seven-point output, matching its haul in the first three stops to jump from third to first in the overall tally with 14 points after four legs of the eight-stage circuit organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.
Sharing the individual honors at Southwoods were Alabang’s UI Mendoza (47 points–Class A), Canlubang’s Theresa Enriquez (46 points–Class B) and Maria Catherine Yulo of Villamor (47 points–Class C).
After being shut out in Tagaytay, Alabang produced four points with two runner-up finishes, grabbing solo second overall with 10 points while Fernando Air Base also scored four points on a win and third place effort to tie Tagaytay and Villamor, which both struggled at the bunker-laden Legends layout and failed to land a podium finish, at third overall with eight points.
Forest Hills toted seven points, while Canlubang and Wack Wack had six and five points, respectively, heading to the last four legs of the circuit sponsored Champion at Valley Golf (July 29), Alabang (Aug. 19), Forest Hills (Sept. 9) and Sta. Elena (Oct. 7).
Scorers for Fernando Air Base in its seven-point win over Southwoods in Class B were Andrea Abad, Lina Galang, Pamela Bermejo and Joena Castillo, who shot 51 44, 41 and 40 points, respectively.
The hosts, led by Lia Gabrielle Rosca’s 44 points, placed fourth in Class A with a 160, nipping Forest Hills in the countback, followed by Villamor (155), Tagaytay (154), Camp Aguinaldo (154), Canlubang (147), while Villamor ended up fourth in Class B with a 167 followed by Alabang (160), Tagaytay (160), Canlubang (155) Forest Hills (155), Orchard (152), Camp Aguinaldo (149) and Wack Wack (145).
Villamor wound up fourth in Class C with a 160 ahead of Camp Aguinaldo (152), Tagaytay (145), Canlubang (139), Wack Wack (125) and Eagle Ridge (123).
