MANILA Southwoods (SW)-Masters, getting a lift from its three young guns, rallied from seven points down to beat Cebu Country Club (CC) by one and annexed a record fourth straight Philippine Airlines Interclub championship at the well-manicured Alta Vista on Saturday in Cebu City.
With Missy Legaspi, Sofia Chabon and Annika Cedo outplaying their respective Cebu CC flightmates, the Carmona-based bets amassed a closing 287 points for 561 to maintain their dominance of the country’s unofficial ladies team championship.
Legaspi, younger sister of national team mainstay Mia, fired a two-over-par 74 worth 52 points and Chabon and Cedo accounted for 51 each as SW-Masters came up with the finishing kick it needed to overhaul the formidable Cebu CC lead.
It was a bitter loss for Cebu CC, which got 50 points each from Crystal Faith Superal, Junia Gabasa and Lois Kaye Go that made up the bulk of its final round 279, two shy of their opening output built around Go’s 53.
“This is the hardest to win, from among those four championships,” said skipper Beachie Abiera, who submitted a 44, said while the team was whooping it up at the clubhouse. “It was the hardest to win yet, the tournament was such a pleasant, yet, very competitive one. The [opposing] ladies of the south were very gracious,” Abiera added.
Lora Roberto, the former national team player, shot 46 with the 43 of Christine Valdehueza the last score to count for SW-Masters, which discarded the 43 of Marie Claire Ong. Mary Kim Hong, who tallied an eagle-spiked 52 points on Thursday, struggled to just 47 and Cebu CC was slowed down when it counted the 36 of Jyra Mae Wong as its last score.
Stephanie Marie Olea fired a 46 and Cebu CC threw out the 35 of Hannah Wong and the 24 of skipper Catrina Martinez. Del Monte finished a far third at 498 after a second straight 249, with newcomer Alta Vista winding up in fourth spot at 487 after a 259.
Valley Golf, meanwhile, successfully held off Alabang to capture the Founders Division by an impressive 11 points after pooling a closing 249 built around the 53 of Isabela Miravite.
Kayla Nocum, the first-day hero for Valley, shot a 45, with Jocelyn Sevilla, Cielo Fregil Violeta Pegels, and Ma. Consuelo Conti shot 40, 38, 37 and 36, respectively.
South Korean expat Eung Sil-jang fired 47 and Rita Horan accounted for 43 for Alabang, which also got 40 each from Joan Morales and Edna Nguyen and 39 and 38 from Marilyn Reyes and Finina Gorres, respectively. The Muntinlupa-based squad discarded the 36 of Jocelyn Garcia and the 30 of Christine Popp.
Tagaytay Highlands ruled the Sportswriters Division pulling away, firing a final round 203 for 415 overall. Apo Golf finished second with a 345 total after a 173 for the day.
The event was sponsored by Boeing, Airbus, B/E Aerospace, Diamond Hotel Philippines, Eastgate Publishing, Bluewater Maribago and Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover).