Alta Vista wins title in The Challenge

CEBU, Philippines – Host Alta Vista Golf and Country Club retained the club title in The Challenge, which ended yesterday at the AVGCC course in Pardo, this city.

The annual junior golf tournament had players from different parts of the country participating.

In the battle for individual honors, Gio Gandionco led Alta Vista by topping class A (15-17 years old) with a three-day total of 227 strokes on rounds of 72, 78 and 77 in the course that was shortened to a par-70 from its regular par-72. Holes nine and 18 were converted into par-4s to shorten the course.

Del Monte's Clyde Mondilla, one of the country's top players, finished second with 232 (83-79-70) via a come-from-behind fashion. Third place went to Lloyd Jefferson Go of Cebu Country Club with 240 (81-77-82).

The class A title for girls went to Alta Vista's Emy Lou Tan with 260 strokes (85-86-89).

In class B (13-14) Ruperto Zaragosa of Canlubang scored a tournament-best aggregate of 215 strokes on rounds of 71, 71 and 73. Zaragosa was the star of the Canlubang team during this year's Philippine Airlines Interclub in Bacolod City. 

Second place for the category went to Isaac Elumba of Zamboanga Golf with 247 (84-85-78) while third place went to Del Monte's JJ Gamolo with 248 (82-83-83).

The title for girls' class B went to Jin Sik Kwak of Club Filipino with a total of 255 on rounds of 78, 90 and 87. Runner-up honors went to Alyeska Yunam of Alta Vista with 258 (85-86-87).

Wei Wei Gao of Alta Vista won the title for boys' class C (11-12) shooting a total of 163 strokes on rounds of 83 and 80. Only classes A, B and the Special Division played three rounds while the rest only had two.

Second place for class C went to Jaime Oposa of Alabang with 175 (84-91) while third place went to Nico Canlas of Pueblo de Oro with 185 (89-96).

The title for the girls' class C went to Pamela Mariano of Del Monte with 162 (81-81) and runner-up honors went to her teammate Rainstar Roque with 175 (88-87).

Ira Alido of Riviera topped boys' class D (9-10) with a total of 167 (87-80). Second place went to Jets Sajulga of Del Monte with 168 (81-87) while third place went to his teammate Russell Bautista with 176 (86-90).

Mactan's Angela Mangana ruled the girls' division for class D with a total of 192 (99-93) and runner-up honors went to Junia Gabasa of Alta Vista with 207 (110-97).

Kevin Park led a 1-2-3 finish of Alta Vista in boys' class E (6-8), which played nine holes per day. Park scored a total of 77 (39-38). Second place went to Jun Hyun Back 92 (49-43) while third place went to Mark Cannen with 106 (55-51).

Wei Fang Gao of Alta Vista topped the girls' class with 107 (54-53).

In the special division, which is for those past the jungolf age, Edsel Tan of Alta Vista won the title shooting rounds of 74, 73 and 71 for a total of 218 strokes. Runner-up honors went to Eldon Elumba of Zamboanga with 270 (96-86-88).

The event was backed by Julie's Franchise Corp., Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines, Selecta Ice Cream, Holiday in Seoul, Maintek Corp., Restoserve Marketing, Purcia Transport, General Milling, Pustahan Printers, EGL Nation Printing, BC Hortelano and Co., VG Star, Campaigns Cebu, and Coca-Cola. (FREEMAN)