Deen vs. Hong for CCC championship

It’s once again youth versus experience in the annual club championships of Cebu Country Club today as four-time champion Eric Deen battles three-time junior club and one-time club champion Charles Hong for the title in a 36-hole match today.

Deen, who is 43 years old, won the club title for three straight years for 1997 to 1999 then won the 2004 edition of the event for his fourth.

Hong, a 19-year-old student of De la Salle University, won the club title for 2005 when he also won his third and last junior club title.  He was also junior champion for 2002 and 2003.

Deen enters the final as a favorite considering that he topped the elimination round while Hong is the sixth seed.  He beat Charles Daniel Uy in the round of 16 6 and 4 before pulling past former club champion Jovi Neri in the quarterfinals, 1-up after 20 holes.

The veteran once again had an escape act in the semifinals edging Mark Anthony Dy, 1-up.

Hong’s second trip to the final started with a 5 and 4 victory over junior golfer Jan-jan Ybañez then he stopped six-time club winner and defending champion Ramontito Garcia in the quarterfinals, 2-up to arrange a showdown with another multi-titled golfer, Carl Almario, a former pro, in the semis.

In their match, Hong trounced Almario, 2 and 1, to make it to today’s match. 

Many of the observers think Hong has what it takes to overcome Deen, but the latter’s familiarity with the course is still seen as his biggest advantage.

Deen regularly plays at CCC since he is based in Cebu unlike Hong who is based in Manila.

Seniors

Koichi Horii won the seniors’ crown with a 4 and 2 victory over his compatriot Hisato Isobe.

Horii, who entered as the top seed, stopped former club president Ben Dapat in the quarterfinals.  In the semis, he beat another Japanese Manabu Ichikawa, 5 and 4.

Isobe, the sixth seed, was a 1-up winner over Joseph Yukayguan in the quarterfinals and a 2 and 1 winner over compatriot Masatsugu Ochiai in the semis.

Super Seniors

Anthony Jackon won for the fourth year in a row, the title for the 70 years old and above category with a whopping 4 and 2 victory over Tony Sikimhua.

Jackson, the top seed, dumped John Uy in the semifinals 5-up while Sikimhua made it to the final with a walkover against Francis Zosa.

Class B

Evans Tumaliwan topped class B after knocking off Wendell Yap in their 18-hole final, 4 and 3.

Tumaliwan entered the quarterfinals as the 5th seed beating number four ranked Ricky Brown 3 and 1.  He managed a walkover in the semifinal round after topseed Michael Go had to default due to a prior business commitment in Manila.

Yap, the second seed, beat George Hong, Charles’ father, in the quarterfinals, 1-up after 19 holes them ousted baby-faced Kenneth Dyguani in the semis, 4 and 3.

Class C

Wayne Congmon bagged the title for this handicap class beating Jerry T. Uy in their match 2 and 1.

Congmon, the third seed, dropped Jay-jay Neri, in their quarterfinal match, 6 and 5 then scored another huge 5 and 3 win over second seed Willy Suarez in the semis.

Uy, who came in as the eighth seed, shocked top seed Joy Anthony Ong, 2 and 1 then went on to score a 1-up win over Andrew Si in the semis.

Class D

Dr. Miguel Mancao won the title for this class edging Pio Go, 1-up after 19 holes in the final.

Mancao, the sixth seed, won by default over Ruben Almendras in the quarterfinals then ousted Paul Mangio, 3 and 1 in the semis.

Go, the fourth seed, scored a 2 and 1 win over Rolly Tan in the quarterfinals then made it automatically to the semis and the top and the eight seed both did not show up for their match.