BAGUIO CITY – It was a walk in the park for former champion Luisita Golf and Country Club and super senior defending champion after both squads won by 50 points or more in the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament on December 9.
A hero came forward by the name of Danny Cruz who broke par with 36 points to lead Luisita to a closing round of 130 and 515 total.
Chino Raymundo and the long hitting Eddie Bagtas, heroes of day one and two, assembled 32 ooints each, while Benjie Sumulong had 30 and day two hero Rodel Mangulabnan matched his day one production of 29 and did not count.
Bagtas also took the individual top honors with 134 points, a five point victory over Danny Cruz.
Manila Southwoods shot its second straight 117 and third in the four day tournament to finish with 465, while John Hay fired a 108 and still managed to hold off erstwhile champion Megafiber which shot a closing 115. John Hay netted 441 and three off last year’s biggest upset maker Megafiber.
Luisita buried the ghost of last year’s defeat and came back stronger this year, while vowing not repeat the same mistake as last year.
From an opening lead of five, it went up to 18 then in its most dominant game yet, the third, Luisita scored a tournament best 136 to make it a 37 point cushion with a round to go.
And it was double sweet as the Am squad took the title by the hairline.
Trailing by three after the third round after a bad start at BCC, the Tarlac based squad assembled 97 for a 425 total which was enough to win the crown with Dugong Bughaw closing out with 93 and 424 total.
Edmund Yee paced Luisita with 29, Raffy Garcia, Chito Laureta and Demy Saclot counted with 25, 22 and 21 for the team.
Noel Marcellano, which outshut Luisita 97-87 on day three, led Dugong Bughaw with 26, Wilfredo Princesa had a 24, while Miguel Morada and Rommie Valdez added 23 and 20 for the team.
Summit Point Golf and Country Club took third honors after finishing with 96 and 415 aggregate.
Camp John Hay had another dominating year and a 56 point victory for the super seniors crown. CJH closed with 89 and 353 total.
Senior Golfers of Veterans, Inc. and Eaglemasters took second and third places with 297 and 235 points, respectively.
Okinawa Golf Team had the luxury to take it slow on the last day with a 13 shot lead, but still managed a 105 and 409 total for an 11 point victory in Seniors Fil A.
Mamala Bay had the best flight score of 107 and 398 to overtake Hotel Bahia Subic for the runners up honor after the latter fired 93 points and 390.
Camp John Hay also took it lightly in the last two days to still manage 89 points for 401 aggregate and 47 point victory in Seniors Am A.
B & Y Utopia rallied from third spot to second place after closing with 84 and 354, for a seven shot edge on Alpha Phi Omega Golfers Club – Leadership which closed with a 74 and 347.
Teerifics had top podium in Seniors Fil B after an 89 for 356, six shots off Team McDer 1 which closed with an 88 and 350. Fil-Am Golf of Florida took third honors with 337 after a 90.
Quickflo Forwarders Inc. had a 63 for 320 points and four shot win in Seniors Am B. Forest Hills Golf and Country Club is second with 316 after a 71. A1/MSG is third place with 304 after a 66.
Eaglemasters made 93 points for 360 and a 30 shot victory over two teams in Seniors Fil C, Macquarie Links Sydney and Hillsiders Baguio. Macquarie took the first runner up honor,
CBIC – IGC Senior edged Eaglemasters I after tallying 68 and 323 for a one shot victory over the latter in Seniors Am C. Baguio Country Club is third spot with 301 after a 65.
Sandigan 82 had 73 points and 287 total to win seniors Fil D, ahead of Pines Golf of California (59+266) and Fil-Am Japan Roto (69=265).
Team Na Koa had a 17 point victory in seniors Am D (59=285) with Team Hollywood bagging second honors with 268 after a 51 and Macquarie Links Sydney with 245.
EK Amigos had a closing round of 94 and 355 total to edge three day leader Bibak New York which had a closing round of 92 and 354.
El kapitan finished third with 315 after an 89.
In Am F, IGC – Builders closed with 62 for 306 and a nine shot win over Team Kumpadres II. Baguio Blue Blood II by nipping Pugo Adventures 283-282.
Team Jasper won Fil G with 306, followed by Eaglemasters IV which finished tied with Sarap Buhay Gang Bagets with 277 but won through countback.
Team Foretee wins Am Gwith 307, followed by Wapinoy (247) and Razcals III (240).
By: Dexter A. See
Photo: Park Jong Won chips in for an easy shot during the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.