Magallanes cops Nokia Central title

Magallanes Village saved its best for last yesterday, scoring an amazing 302 Stableford points to snatch the Nokia Intervillage Central golf tournament crown from the Wack Wack village team at the west course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Magallanes, which trailed Wack Wack, 282-285, after the first round last May 20 Manila Golf, played beyond expectations with seven players, led by team captain Noel Legaspi, scoring 38 points each under the 12-to-play, eight-to-count format.

With its 584 total after 36 holes, Magallanes towed Wack Wack, which had a 288 for a 573 total, and Greenmeadows, which scored a 280 for a 551, into the Nokia Grand Intervillage scheduled this November.

The tournament, organized by Videocom in 1991 to promote fellowship among golfers in Metro Manila’s residential villages, is sponsored by Nokia and supported by PLDT, Alaxan, Planet Wine & More Gallery, ICTSI, Mastercard, Philippine Airlines, Menzi & Co., National Sports Grill, Pisanti, Mizuno and Boracay 357.

Also assured of slots to the Nokia Grand Intervillage are Corinthian Gardens, Philam Homes and Don Enrique Heights (Nokia North); Alabang 400, Tahanan Village and BF Homes (Nokia South); and Greenhills 1, Greenhills 2 and Valle Verde 1 (Nokia East).

Magallanes’ second-round output stands as the best for any team so far this year, eclipsing the 299 posted by Corinthian Gardens in the Nokia North finals last May 28. Greenhills 1, last year’s grand champion, is third with its 296, also in the second round.

Aside from Legaspi, also scoring 38s for Magallanes were Rodel Mangulabnan, Emil "Jigs" Alviar, Alfredo Legaspi, Emelie Mangulabnan, Raymond Silvestre and VG Martinez. The other scorer for the team was Alfredo dela Peña with his 36.