Archers nip Eagles in nail-biting matchplay finale

TRECE MARTIRES — The Green Archers played better in the last six flights of their hotly-contested duel with the Blue Eagles to retain the Fil-Estate Land Inc. (FELI) La Salle-Ateneo Match Play golf championship by the slimmest of margins at the Sherwood Hills Golf and Country Club Sunday.

Trailing by one point at the start of the day, La Salle won nine of 18 singles matches and forced a tie in two other pairings to win the annual Ryder Cup- style event, 21.5-20.5.

It was the most tightly-fought match in the three-year history of the event, ending a string of lopsided results that characterized the first two editions.

Ateneo routed La Salle, 24-18, in the inaugurals two years ago at the Sherwood Hills, but the Archers responded in kind, 23-19, at Camp John Hay Golf and Country Club in Baguio.

"The boys fought hard to the end," said La Salle captain Freddie Mendoza. "Ateneo was getting the better of us in the first few holes in the backnine, but we turned things around toward the end."

La Salle caught up with Ateneo after the first 10 singles matches.

Raymund Sangil opened the Archers’ account with a 2 and 1 victory over Louie Dacudao.

After Ateneo’s Junjun Plana and La Salle’s Miko Alejandro squared their match, Marty Ilagan gave Ateneo its first point following a 3 and 1 triumph over Brixton Aw.

Veteran Tommy Manotoc, bad back and all, crushed Venjo Reyes, 7 and 5, to hand La Salle the lead anew.

The Eagles won the next three matches comfortably, including a huge upset pulled off by 13-year-old Marcel Puyat.

Puyat, an imposing figure at 5-11, toppled the experienced Francis Gaston, 3 and 2.

"This kid will go places. Give him three more years and he will be a force to reckon with," said Gaston, who won the 1978 Philippine Amateur championship. "He hits the ball long and putts well."

Anthony Fernando whipped Marco Olives, 6 and 5, and Eric Gozo humbled King Stehmeier, 7 and 6, for Ateneo’s other points.

The Archers returned the favor by taking the next three matches, including two featured women pairings.

National player Anya Tanpinco stamped her class over Katrina Gonzalez, 6 and 5, while Kim Hong stunned favored Lovelyn Guioguio, 3 and 1.

Charles Hong, the second of three siblings fielded by La Salle, defeated Bobby Ysip, 4 and 2, to keep the Eagles at bay.

Ateneo went two-up by taking the next two matches via 2 and 1 scores courtesy of Jovi Neri, who outplayed Oliver Gan, and Benjie Sarmiento who won over Louie Garcia.

The Archers won three matches to grab the lead for the first time.

JP Reyes made short work of Pepot Inigo, 6 and 5, and William Hong and Miko Yee defeated separate opponents on the 18th hole.

Yee won his match when Manoling Chan three-putted from 45 while Hong got the better of Jeric Hechanova.

In two other matches that ended on the 16th hole, La Salle‚s youthful Justin Limjap and Ateneo‚s Jingy Tuason emerged winners.

Limjap outdueled veteran Iggy Clavecilla, 3 and 2, while Tuason upended Ronnie Littaua by the same score.

Ateneo still had a chance to square the match in the last remaining flight.

But Raffy Garcia stuck his six-iron approach from 165 yards to within six inches of the cup on the 17th hole to tie Jose Mari Hechanova end eventually secured the tournament for La Salle.

Ateneo skipper Teboy Javier was gracious in defeat.

„La Salle played well,‰ Javier said. „We were all tired, but La Salle got all the breaks.‰ Mendoza thought they had fresher legs.

„We could still play nine holes,‰ said Mendoza who had seven players below 20 years old.

The annual event was organized by Club Leisure Management and sponsored by FELI and Sherwood Hills.