Southwoods ladies hold off rivals, near 4-peat

BACOLOD  ,Philippines – Manila Southwoods slowed down with a 223 but kept a 13-point lead over Del Monte intact, moving 18 holes away from nailing a fourth straight championship in the WGAP Luzvimin golf tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here Thursday.

Sunshine Baraquiel cranked up her bid for the individual crown by turning in 52 Molave points after a 51 but the other Southwoods ladies struggled with Lora Roberto and Regine de Guzman settling for 48 and 46, respectively, after a pair of 50s, Marie Claire Ong shooting a second straight 40 and either Claudine Garcia or Bernadette Abiera counting with a 37 in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format event.

Counting its 235 output Wednesday, the Carmona-based squad, which dominated the event the last three years, pooled a 36-hole aggregate of 458, still 13 points ahead of Del Monte in the premier Diamond division of the three-category event. The Bukidnon ladies matched Southwoods’ 223 aggregate on Pamela Mariano’s 47, Lovelyn Guioguio’s 46, Apple Fudolin’s 45, Kristine Leonen’s 44 and Eva Miñoza’s 41.

Baraquiel’s 103-total also netted her a five-point lead over Roberto (98) in the individual race with three-time defending champion De Guzman two points farther back at 96.

Mactan Island remained in third at 321 after a 152 while Victorias shot 134 for a 281 followed by Davao City Golf (135-256), Davao Apo (121-249) and Baguio (109-214).

Negros Occidental likewise kept the lead in Ruby class with a 367 after a 178 but found a new pursuer in defending champion Sta. Elena, which fought back with a 184 to threaten at 356, 11 points off with one round left in the 54-hole event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Maita Lustre and Gaby Monfort each fired 42 points for Negros while Jocelyn Garcia, Joanne Reyes and Regina Zulueta tossed in 36, 35 and 23 points, respectively, while Sta. Elena drew a solid 44-point output from Therese Dabao to fuel its comeback bid. Other scorers for Cabuyao-based team were Tami Leung (38), Rio Co (37), Nancy Ortiga (34) and Lota Nemec (31).

Lustre also showed the way in the individual competition with 82, five points ahead of Wack Wack’s Joanna Lim and Del Monte’s Taj Kay Tabanas, who both had 77s.

Alabang slid to third with a 339 after a 161 while Tagaytay is in fourth at 329 after a 162 followed by Camp John Hay (171-328), Wack Wack (142-286) and Canlubang (146-275).

Bacolod, meanwhile, grabbed the lead in Pearl division as it fired a 180 for a 350, posting a 15-point lead over erstwhile leader Riviera, which sputtered with a 161 for a 335 while Villamor remained in third with a 294 after 141 followed by Armed Forces of the Phils. (145-285), Forest Hills (135-279) and Manila Golf (130-269).

Jocel Pagunsan led Bacolod’s charge with 46 points while Cara Golez and Farah de Asis backed her up with 43 and 33, respectively, and Pinky Silva and Myeong Ok Cho added two 29s.

Gilda Medestomas paced the Pearl derby with a 71, two points ahead of Riviera teammate Beth Salazar and Alabang’s Videlyn Torralba, who both totaled 69 points.