De Castro, Ong capture AGC plums at Malarayat

MANILA, Philippines - Ruel de Castro scored 44 Stableford points to beat Tony Sarmiento for the Group I crown while Robert Ng Ong nipped Julian Confesor in the countback to capture the Group II plum in the Architects Golf Club’s monthly tournament at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas City recently.

De Castro, a 15 handicapper, shot a gross 79 at the Mt. Lobo and Mt. Malipunyo courses as he dominated the premier class in the event sponsored by Boysen Paints. Sarmiento had a gross 86 for a net 71 worth 37 points while Adones Baluyut finished third with 36 points from a gross 82.

Ong, an 18 handicapper who had a gross 96, and Confesor, who had a 20 handicap and shot a gross 97, both wound up with 34 points but the former won in the countback. Dante Yatco placed third in Group II with 32 points from a gross 97.

Ed Casares topped Group III with 37 points from a gross 96, edging Wilson Sioco, who also had a 37 and a gross 96, in the countback. Ton Beredo wound up third with 35 points from a gross 100.

Ramon Mendoza, on the other hand, scored 37 points from a gross 98 to post a one-point victory over Nilo Villanueva, who had a gross 103 worth 36 points. Rolando Francisco had a 33 from a gross 107 for third.

Alexander Hilario shot a gross 111 worth 31 points as he copped the Group V crown, defeating Jaime Patalud, who had 30 points from a gross 111. Bobby Chua, who also wound up with 30 points from a gross 112, finished third after losing in the countback.

The monthly tournament among the country’s top golfing architects was backed by Moldex, Panasonic, Emerald Vinyl, JME Supreme International, Inc., Philips Wires & Cables, Republic Powdercoat, Samitrade, Columbia Wires, Firefly Electric & Lighting and Kuysen Enterprises, Inc.