CEBU, Philippines - Irina Gabasa fired an eagle-aided even-par 72 strokes Saturday to win the lowest gross honors in the December Monthly Medal of Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, which drew a record field of over a hundred participants.
That was the first time that the club decided to hold a monthly medal for December as it usually ends the year with the traditional Christmas Fun Golf Classic during the second weekend of the month.
Willy T. Go, chairman of the monthly medal tournament committee, decided to hold a special event for December noting that many people would be wanting to play during the long Christmas break.
Gabasa, nailed her third shot on the uphill par-5 hole number 10 from 65 yards. She had nines of 35 and 37 to win the title for class A.
The lowest net plum went to Kim Kwang Seok with a net score of 66 off a gross 75. Emir Abutazil, who is home for the holidays, also shot a gross 75 but had a net 67 to finish as the runner-up of the premiere handicap class.
The lowest gross for class B went to Cristino Lim, who fired five-over-par 77 strokes.
The lowest net plum went to Bobby Barria with 67 strokes off a gross 79 while runner-up honors went to Loloy Sabuga, who made 68 strokes.
The class C title for lowest gross went to Ramoncito ‘Dondon’ Arquiza, who shot 88 strokes.
The lowest net title went to Conrado Abarintos with a net 65 while Willy Go was the runner-up with his 66.
Vicente ‘Inting’ Go, one of the directors of the club, fired five-over-par77 to win the lowest gross title for the seniors’ division.
The lowest net plum went to Jinichi Tanaka with a tournament-best 59 strokes off a gross 83 while runner-up honors went to Nick Torres with a net score of 63.
Emy Lou Tan scored the lowest gross for the ladies’ division shooting 85 strokes on nines of 35 and 50.
Joan Hortelano was the lowest net winner with even-=par 72 strokes.
In the guest division using the Callaway handicapping system, Jimmy Vicaldo won the title with a net score of 71 while Hospicio ‘Razy’ Razon was the runner-up with a net 72.
Arquiza also won a special prize for nearest the pin on hole number 6 as he left seven feet and two inches for a birdie try on the par-3 hole.
Emelio Tan, Emy Lou’s father, had the most accurate drive on hole No. 11 as his tee shot landed a foot and five inches away from the center line. (THE FREEMAN)