Gonzales, Katigbak reach golf quarters

Manila, Philippines - Dennis Gonzales of Summit Point and Mt. Malarayat’s Gerald Katigbak pulled off a pair of match play cliffhangers to barge into the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Samsung National Tournament of Club Champions at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite last Wednesday.

The ninth-ranked Gonzales toppled No. 8 Glenn de Leon of Sta. Elena, 1-up, to arrange a Last 8 showdown with top seed Park Jung-soo of Eastridge Golf Club while Katigbak advanced after Tagaytay Highlands/Midlands champion Larry Patnongon conceded after the 18th hole of the Norman Course.

Katigbak takes on No. 2 Richard Joson of Royal Northwoods in the other side of the draw for a berth in the semifinal round of the tournament sponsored by Samsung in partnership with Eagle Ridge GCC and its developers Sta. Lucia Realty and Alsons Land, Inc. and Inquirer Golf.

Park, a two-time champion, and Joson drew byes after topping the 18-hole stroke qualifier of the annual event backed by Microtel as official hotel, Airphil Express, Mizuno, Glucoscare Tea, Footjoy and Titleist by Empire, Custom Clubmakers and Omnisource International. 

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No. 4 Louie Garcia of Orchard routed Jon Judan of Riviera, 4&3, to set up a quarters duel with Valley Golf’s Adrian Mauricio, who scored a walkover win over Alabang’s Indren Naidoo, in the weeklong tournament among the champions of the country’s leading golf clubs.

The other quarterfinal pairing pits Eagle Ridge’s Cho Han Pyo, who advanced after Baguio Country Club’s Nelson Eslao conceded after 12 holes, against JP Reyes of Manila Golf, who disposed of Iloilo GC’s Andrei Cornejo, 4&3.

In seniors play, top seed Lino Magpantay outplayed Nicetas Katigbak of Mt. Malarayat, 4&3 at the Dye layout, to arrange a Final Four clash with fifth seed King Sumulong of Eastridge, who won by default over No. 4 Stewart Go of Wack Wack.

No. 7 Tomas Joson of Royal Northwoods, meanwhile, shocked second seed Florene delos Santos of Manila Southwoods, scoring a runaway 7&6 romp for a semis duel with No. 6 Carlos Coscolluela of Alabang, who also scored a 2&1 upset win over third ranked Goody Ignacio of Baguio CC.

Meanwhile, Beachie Abierra of Tagaytay Highlands/Midlands and Rancho Palos Verdes’ Jane Villegas were disputing the semifinal berth in the ladies side at presstime with the winner colliding with top seed Tina Gonzales of Orchard.

Third seed Mela Lee of Ayala Greenfields and No. 6 Maggie Rivera of Iloilo GC, on the other hand, clash for the other Final Four berth with the winner advancing against second seed Olive Yoon of Mt. Malarayat.