Montito Garcia rules Aznar Cup

Ramontito Garcia plays with a handicap of one stroke at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club. He did not need that last Saturday when he stamped his class to rule the 2nd Matias H. Aznar Memorial Cup.

Garcia flashed the form that made him among the top golfers of Cebu as he shot a three-under-par 69 to win top honors in the 18-hole tournament. Garcia carded one-under-par 34 on the front nine and made two-under-par 35 on the back nine.

He slipped to one-over-par on the second hole with a bogey 4 on the short par-3, but easily got back to where he wanted with back-to-back birdies on the 7th and 8th. In the back nine, a birdie on the treacherous uphill 10th was nullified with a bogey on the par-4th 11th, which was followed by another on the 12th. Garcia however sprung back into action with three straight birdies on the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes.

The class A title of the tournament went to Edwin Espina, who won it via a tie breaker against Andrew Aznar, a grandson of Matias H. Aznar. Espina scored a gross 73 and had a net 64 and did better on the last six holes to edge Aznar.

Aznar, who settled for the first runner-up honors, had a gross even-par 72 and a net 64 also.

Second runner-up for the class was Dr. Rey Dira with a net score of 66 off a gross score of 76.

Nestor Mendoza topped class B with a net score of 67 and edging three others in a close battle for the title. First runner-up was Roy Damole while Mario Caballes was 2nd runner-up. Nolan Rada also shot 67 but did not make it to the top three after the ties were broken.

Kim Young Hoon won the class C title of the tournament shooting a net 63 off a gross 82. Dr. Jacinto Velez was first runner-up with a net 65 while Ramon Yap was third with a net score of 66 strokes.

Sports patron Albino Gothong topped the seniors' division shooting a net score of 62 strokes off a gross 84. Vit Tacudin finished as first runner-up with a net score of 63 while Ed Sy was second runner-up with a net 67. Sy won the award after edging Ang Chiong, Rod Señido, and John Uy in the tie breaker.

Hannah Wong ran away with the title in the ladies division shooting a net score of 66 strokes. First runner-up for the distaff side was Ada Martinez with a net score of 71. Martinez beat two others to the award after the tie breaker. Joy Siguan was 2nd runner-up with a net 71. Jeannette Chiu, who also made a net score of 71 failed to join the top three.

The guest division title went to Boy Alegre in a tightly contested battle that saw three players finishing with net scores of 61 strokes. First runner-up was lawyer Julius Neri. Sr. while 2nd runner-up was Marlo Cugtas.

Taiyo Yuden (Phils.) Inc., Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Inc., Adidas-Cebu (Ayala), Masuerte Properties & Development Realty Corp., Jo & Pintor Investment Realty Corp., Southwestern University Inc., Aznar Bros. Realty Co., Prudential Guarantee and Assurance Inc., Friends and Business Associates of SWU, and ESRQ Traders Inc. were the sponsors of the tournament. - NLQ