Ateneo beats La Salle in golf duel

CEBU - The perpetual trophy and more importantly one year of bragging rights went to the Ateneans Tuesday as they bagged the overall honors in the 7th La Salle-Ateneo Golf Classic played at the Cebu Country Club.

Ateneo ran away with the title scoring a total of 88 points against the severely undermanned La Salle with 34.

Jovi Neri led Ateneo with his lowest gross victory in class A as he scored a whopping four-under-par 68 strokes. 

Ateneo’s Efren Sarmiento had the lowest net for the premiere handicap class with 65 edging teammate Kento Nakada, who settled for the first runner-up honors. Mary Kim Hong prevented a shut out for La Salle as she finished as second runner-up with a net score of 68.

In class B, Shotaru Suda of Ateneo scored the lowest gross and was the only Blue Eagle bet to have earned points in this class. The lowest net plum went to La Salle’s Jojo Ong with 66 strokes edging teammate Michael Veloso for the plum. Velsos settled for the first runner-up honors while Emmy Tesalona was the second runner-up with 68.

Brucedy Chan of La Salle was also the lone Green Archer to score points in class C as he logged the lowest gross with 85 strokes. Reagan King led the Ateneo sweep of the net honors with his 65 followed by Akimaro Suda with 67 and Jet Hofer with 69.

In the open division for those without club certified handicaps, Andre Borromeo scored the lowest gross with 76 strokes earning a full ten points for Ateneo. The lowest net was made by Eric Tensuan of the Ateneo Golf Foundation with 71 in the System-36 format. First runner-up was La Salle’s Sebastian Lacson with 72 followed by Javy Quintos, president of the One La Salle Cebu Alumni Association at 2nd runner-up also with 72.

In the guest division, Dino Yap scored 73 to win the lowest gross honors. The lowest net plum went to Anton Florendo with 70 followed by Wendell Yap with 71 and Ed Chiu with 73.

Special prizes for nearest the pin went to Jet Neric for hole number 3, Bruce Chiongbian for number 5, Antonio Pineda for number 13, and Kent de la Calzada on the 15th.

The Ateneans also ran away with the matchplay events.

La Salle won the title last year ending a five-year run by Ateneo. With Ateneo taking the title this year, La Salle plans to step up its recruitment in preparation for next year’s event. (NLQ) (THE FREEMAN)