Highlanders reign at home in WGAP tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay Highlands made the most of its hosting of the fifth leg of the Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. (WGAP) circuit as it captured the Class A crown while turning in a runner-up and third place finish in the two other divisions at Tagaytay Midlands recently.

Virginia Bote used her local knowledge of the wind-raked layout to fire 39 Stableford points while Bernadette Wong, Rosalie Heo and Maripaz Domingo backed her up with 35, 33 and 32 points, respectively, for the Highlanders, who pooled a 139 to beat Alabang by four.

Jocelyn Garcia sizzled with 42 points to lead Alabang’s charge and cop the individual title. Marjorie Lopingco added a 32 while Marilyn Reyes and Rita Horan chipped in 31 and 30 points, respectively, for the Muntinlupa-based squad which pooled a 135.

Canlubang drew 35 points apiece from Lucy Landicho and Lina de Guzman while Colo Ventosa stepped up to shoot a 31 and Tacing Laurel put in 28 points for a 129 aggregate in the course-hopping event organized by WGAP.

Armed Forces of the Phils. assembled a 134 and foiled Highlands’ bid in Class B with Sta. Elena’s Lily Chan taking the individual crown with 37 points while Villamor topped Class C with a 126 for a four-point victory over Alabang and six over the host club. AFP’s Nitz Salivio won the individual title with 40 points.

Highlands’ 1-2-3 finish gave it a 17-point total after five legs although defending overall champion Alabang remained in the lead with 28 points with two runner-up finishes and a third place effort at Highlands. Forest Hills is in third with 12 followed by AFP (10), Sta. Elena (9), Canlubang (8), Villamor (5) and Valley Golf (1) with Orchard and Riviera remaining scoreless with three legs left in the eight-stage circuit.

Marie Guerrero shot 39 points, Edlyn Robas had 34 and Venus Hufalar and Racquel Santos scored 31 and 30 points, respectively to power AFP to the win in Group B. Highlands made a 130 behind Rosario Dimson’s 35, Rebecca Albert’s 33, Ma. Lourdes Roxas’ 32 and Mely Leyesa’s 30 points.

Alabang drew 31 points from Bingbing Feliciano and Carol Nielsen while Lolita Arguelles and Greely Oposa added 30 and 29 points, respectively, in Class B.

Melanie Cruz came through with 44 points to pace Villamor’s Class C win with Mary Anne Reyes, Lisa Ferreras and MJ Hernandez backing her up with 30, 27 and 25 points, respectively, while Eternity Labio (34), Belinda Eberle (32), Tina Javellana (28) and Coralyn del Rosario (28) accounted for Alabang’s 122-point output.

The hosts drew 32 points from Connie Mamaril while Josefina made 30 and Erlinda Gamut and Patricia Tan added 29 points each for their 120-point production.