Hernandez rules Active Group Mid-Am

LIPA CITY – Former international bet Dave Hernandez, saving his best for last, sparkled with a 70 yesterday to rule the Championship Class in the first Active Group Mid-Amateur Open tournament here.

Hernandez, 48, who played in many Putra and Nomura Cups as a young man, pieced together nines of 36 and 34 to humble Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club’s Lubo and Makulot courses and the field.

Together with his earlier efforts of 75 and 71, Hernandez came up with 216 to win by five shots in the tournament launched by MMGC chairman Tony Turalba for executives and businessmen aged 30 and older.

"It’s great to play Mount Malarayat," said Hernandez after receiving his prize from Turalba. "Everything here is great, the greens, the fairways. And I feel great, too. I guess I just played better than the other guys."

Two of these guys were Jinky Tuason of Sta. Elena and MMGC’s Abe Avena, who also matched Hernandez’s two under part effort to settle for second and third places with 221 and 222, respectively.

Another guy was Tommy Manotoc, 53, who closed out with 75 to place fourth at 224. Manotoc, the Calatagan general manager, shot a 73 to take the first day lead. But he made a 76 the next day to lose it to Hernandez.

Jun Bernis of Canlubang was fifth with 74-227, followed by teammate Rolly Viray 79-229, MMGC’s Pitong Quiocho 73-231 and MMGC golf director Mike Carr 82-239.

"I would like to congratulate Dave for being our first champion, as well as the other winners," Turalba said. "Most of all, I would like to thank all the participants for coming and finding our courses great.

"And this early, I would like to assure you all that we will again stage this tournament next year. In other words, this championship will be an annual affair at Club Malarayat from now on."

Ricardo Camacho of MMGC shot a 75 to top Class A with 155 while Villamor’s Florentino Tolentino made an 81 to rule Class B with 167. The Class C title went to Riviera’s Domingo de Leon with 79-166.

Lito Lapay of MMGC carded 159 to finish second in Class A. The other second placers were MMGC’s Ramon Villareal in Class B with 174 and Geronimo Sales, also of MMGC in Class C with 180.

The tournament – 54 holes for the Championship Class and 36 each for Classes A, B and C – was Turalba’s brainchild. And his noble goals are to make it an annual national event as well as one of MMGC’s majors.