Eagle Ridge tops Mizuno Scramble

MANILA, Philippines – Team Eagle Ridge foiled Riviera’s title-retention bid, winning the 2009 Mizuno Scramble Classic grand finals via the countback Friday at the Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club in Batangas.

Arnel Romero, Lawrence Celestino, Norman Tugot, Ramil Villanueva, Elro Delos Reyes and Manolo Antonil combined for a net 214 playing in three separate divisions and banked on a better score on the final three holes to pull through.

Low-handicappers Romero and junior golfer Celestino, playing in Division I, assembled a 66, Tugot and Villanueva combined for a 71 in Division II play and the delos Reyes-Antonil pair contributed a 77 in Division III action.

Rene Unson and daughter Andie topscored with a 65 in Division I for Riviera. Eric Virata-Oscar Desipeda had a 72 while Bernie Pau-Howie Mijares returned a 77.

Of the 12 clubs which took part in the culmination of a course-hopping series, Valley came in third and Orchard fourth.

For their feat, Team Eagle Ridge will enjoy an all-expense-paid vacation in Japan this November and will be special visitors in the Mizuno LPGA Classic.

Tugot, son of local golfing legend Celestino, and Villanueva likewise captured their division title for Eagle Ridge.

Marty Ilagan and Lito Abiera took the Division plum with the tournament’s lowest net of 62 while Valley’s Willy Cabalce aand Dionisio Littaua were the Division III winners.