Golden Oats completes grand slam

BAGUIO – Golden Oats nearly blew a three-point lead but hung tough with clutch putts in the closing holes to foil Camp John Hay and complete a three-peat in the Fil-Championship division of the seniors tournament of the Fil-Am Men’s Golf Invitational at the Baguio Country Club yesterday.

Bong Sison birdied No. 18 and scored 29 Stableford points to anchor Golden Oats’ closing 109 for a four-round total of 468 and a four-point victory over John Hay.

National seniors champion Iggy Clavecilla topscored with 32 points, Francis Gaston contributed 25 and either the 23 of team captain Florene delos Santos and Freddie Mendoza counted for the team in the five-to-play, four-to-count format.

“We are very lucky to escape with the win. Camp John Hay put up a great fight this year. Thanks to our heads-up play in the final holes, we pulled off another successful run in the Fil-Am,” said Mendoza, who acted as Golden Oats’ playing team manager.

Three points down at the start of the final round, John Hay rallied to draw level after nine holes, kept the pressure at back but fell short of their bid to turn back their rivals.

The hosts wound up with a 108 for a 464.

Fred Puckett and Clyde Cabreros paced John Hay with 30 points apiece while Korean Park Jun-Wong and skipper Nelson Eslao added 24 points apiece.

“They deserved it. We gave them a good fight but they proved superior. We have to come back strong in 2009 to beat them,” said Eslao.

Wilson Sports, Hi-Tec, Club Car, Eva Air, Royal Caribbean, Beauty & Fashion Walk, CJH Development Corporation, Sustagen Premium, Golf Force, The Manor, Duty Free Philippines, San Miguel Corporation, UBix, Fil Estate, Riz Golf and Coppertone sponsored the event while Information Professional Inc. provided the scoring solution.