Southwoods grabs lead, nears 3-peat

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Southwoods got back at Del Monte behind Regine de Guzman’s brilliant round of 59 points as it pooled a 244 to wrest a five-point lead heading into the final round of the WGAP-Luzvimin golf tournament at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon yesterday.

De Guzman, chasing her third straight individual title like her team, sizzled with that superb 59-point output, equivalent to five-under par in stroke play, as she powered the Carmona-based squad to the lead with a 485 aggregate.

Lora Roberto added 51 points while Claudine Garcia and Beachie Abiera each had 45 points and Kat Gonzales tossed in 44 points in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format played under the Molave scoring system.

Claire Ong and Sandy Velhagen failed to count with 41 and 36 points, respectively.

But De Guzman and the four other Southwoods’ ladies rounds were enough to propel the defending back-to-back champion to the lead and within 18 holes of wrapping another championship in the annual event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.

Del Monte drew 54 points from Kristine Leonen while Eva Miñoza and Apple Fudolin slowed down with identical 49 points after shooting a 51 and 53 in the first round which they led with a 242 aggregate. Pamela Mariano and Kaye Tabanas added 45 and 41 points for the hosts, who assembled a 238 for a 480.

Aguinaldo, behind Matet Salivio’s 54 points, moved up to third with a 467 after a 236 while Alabang slid to fourth with a 462 after a 230 followed by Wack Wack (174-338), Canlubang (167-325) and Pueblo de Oro (161-323) in that order.

De Guzman, four points behind Alabang’s Geleen Handog after the first round, surged ahead by six with a 110 with Handog dropping to second with a 104 after a 49. Leonen climbed to third with a 103 after a 54 in a tie with Salivio while Fudolin tumbled down to fifth with a 102.