Park, Joson top Samsung golf elims

MANILA, Philippines - Eastridge’s Park Jung-soo played true to form and carded a two-over par 74 to top the one-day stroke play qualifier of 2011 Samsung National Tournament of Club Champions at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite last Tuesday.

Park, seeking a third championship in the men’s division of the annual tournament which gathers the club champions of the country’s leading golf clubs, strung up nines of 38-36 at the Dye layout to gain the top seeding in the match play phase which got under way yesterday.

Richard Joson of Royal Northwoods actually led the field with a 37 at the front but wavered a bit with a closing 38, settling for 75 and the No. 2 spot in the knockout stage of the event sponsored by Samsung in partnership with Eagle Ridge GCC and its developers Sta. Lucia Realty and Alsons Land, Inc. and Inquirer Golf.

For topping the elims, Park and Joson have been seeded into the second round of the match play.

Others who advanced were Rancho Palos Verdes’ Cho Han Pyo and Louie Garcia of Orchard, who both shot 78s, Adrian Mauricio of Valley Golf, who had an 81, Manila Golf’s JP Reyes, who made an 82, Larry Patnongon of Tagaytay Highlands/Midlands and Glenn de Leon of Sta. Elena, who turned in similar 83s;

Dennis Gonzales of Summit Point, who shot an 84, Gerald Katigbak of Mt. Malarayat and Iloilo Golf’s Andrei Cornejo, who both had 85s, Alabang’s Indren Naidoo, who made a 93, and Jon Judan of Riviera and Baguio Country Club’s Nelson Eslao, who carded 94 and 98, respectively.

Match play pairings pit Cho vs Elsao, Garcia vs Judan, Mauricio vs Naidoo, Reyes vs Cornejo, Patnongon vs Katigbak, and De Leon vs Gonzales.

Lino Magpantay of Tagaytay Midlands rallied with a 35 at the back and finished with a 77 to claim the No. 1 spot and lead the eight-player match play cast in seniors play of the event backed by Microtel as official hotel, Airphil Express, Mizuno, Glucoscare Tea, Footjoy and Titleist by Empire, Custom Clubmakers, Rizgolf Sports Marketing and Omnisource International.

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Manila Southwoods’ Florene delos Santos placed second with a 78 followed by Baguio’s Goody Ignacio (79), Stewart Go of Wack Wack (81) and King Sumulong of Eastridge, Carlos Coscolluela of Alabang, Tomas Joson of Royal Northwoods and Nicetas Katigbak of Mt. Malarayat, who all had 82s.

Vying in the stroke play elims in the ladies side at presstime were Beachie Abiera of Tagaytay Midlands and Highlands GC and Finina Gorres of Alabang GC, Sandy Prieto-Romualdez of Manila Golf, Maggie Rivera of Iloilo GCC, Jane Villegas of Rancho Palos Verdes, Erlinda Goble of Eagle Ridge, Tina Garcia of Orchard, Mela Lee of Ayala Greenfields and Olive Yoon of Mt. Malarayat.