Murakami fires another 68, moves to 14th

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The more heralded Manila Southwoods and Mizuno teams failed to mount a last round rally that saw Forest Hills - Niclaus take its first title in the Fil championship flight of the 61st Fil-Am golf invitational tournament at the Baguio Country Club golf course yesterday.

Forest Hills closed with 103 points for a four-day total of 462 to win the premier Fil championship flight by four strokes over Mizuno and another stroke over eight time and defending champion Southwoods.

Junard Austria capped his brilliant game with 30 points to lead the Forest Hills charge, while Gabby Atienza added 27, Rafael Garcia a 24 and Inigo Raymundo and Juan Miguel Garcia a 22.

“We collapsed at the back nine despite taking the lead in the front nine,” said a dejected JB Garcia of Mizuno, who failed to take their first title in six years.

Garcia scored 14 and did not count for the 2004 champion which got 29 from King Stehmeier, 27 from Rodel Mangalubnan, 26 from Richard Joson and a 19 from former World Jungolf champion Juami Rocha for the team’s 100 and 358 points.

Southwoods played a little better than Mizuno after a 101 on the 28 of Teody Pascual, 26 from Chepe Dulay, 25 from Joseph Tambunting and 22 from Sung Wan Yoon, while Charlie Chang scored only 18 points and did not count.

Southwoods scored a four day aggregate of 457 for third, its worst so far in the tournament.

Am Championship winner SeaBridge Chelus II outscored Forest Hills by more than 30 points and could move to the Fil Championship next year, said tournament vice chair Shin Paul Chan.

Chelus II closed with 129 for the team’s 493 points, 31 points better than their Fil counterpart. Che’lus likewise blew the Am Champ field after winning by 97 points over second running Matikas.

Camp Aguinaldo, meanwhile, closed with 124 to win Fil A with 487, again outscoring the Fil Championship flight. 

Carlos Miguel Ochoa led Aguinaldo with 35, Ricky delos santos had 33, while Manfred Guangko and Rudy Amata scored 30 and 26 to count for the team.

BCC closed with a 102 and 457 total to take second place with Camp John Hay at third after a 97 and 439 aggregate.

A-1 Driving School had 107 points and a 445 aggregate to win Am A by 21 points over Aguinaldo which closed out with 109. Forest Hills had 105 and 424 tally to take third place.

Watercraft Ventures had 95 points and a 421 total to win Fil B. That is seven off first round leader Mamala Bay which scored 99 and 414 tally. Ultra Flite GC I had a 99 and 408 total to overtake Benlife MMA Golf Team I which collapsed with 88 points and 408 total. Benlife lost the trophy through countback.

Mamala Bay’s Am team, however, took the Am B title by 31 points after closing out with 103 and 379 total. Benlife Gilf Team II settled for second place with 348 after a 92, while Team Surigao I had 90 for 336 for third place.

Batman had four day score of 100 and 405 total to win Fil C by 19 points. Seabridge Che’lus I came in second with 386 after an 83, while Guam Kool Swingers had a 74 and 375 points for third place. The Guamenians, however, had an added incentive with Gilbert Manansala going home driving a Toyota Vios after acing the 18th hole of Camp John Hay Wednesday.

Square & Compass Golf of Nueva Ecija I slowed down with an 84 for a 364 aggregate to win Fil D by 24 points. 

Fil Golfers of Hawaii had 86 points en route to a 340 to take second place, while Pacific Rim had a 77 and 312 total to finish third.