Carlos, Gonzales complete NGAP doubles quest

MANILA, Philippines - Jobim Carlos and Raymundo Gonzales combined for a one-under 135 in aggregate play to rout the field and capture the first NGAP National Doubles Golf Championship crown via a seven-stroke romp at the AFP Golf Club yesterday.

Carlos, a US-based golf scholar, fired a one-under 67 while Gonzales matched par 68 as the duo turned what had appeared to be a down-to-the-wire finish into a runaway triumph with a 54-hole haul of 273.

The output included a 74 in the foursome and a 64 in the four-ball format of the novel championship initiated by NGAP tournament chairman Tommy Manotoc and sec-gen Jun Arceo with support from Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Lawrence Celestino and Joey Huerva, who with Gino Bunyi and Marvin Mendoza started just one shot behind the Carlos-Gonzales pair at the start of the final round, failed to match the latter’s near-flawless game, groping for a 141 and ending up seven strokes behind at 280 for second in event presented by Globe, AirPhil Express and Pancake House.

Art Arbole also shot a 67 and steered his partnership with Gabriel Manotoc to third place at 283 after a 139 while Rupert Zaragosa and Justin Quiban pooled a 145 to share fourth place with Ricky delos Santos and Ricky Velasco, who had a 149, at 291.

Lans Uy and Paolo Uy also ran away with the Group II crown with a 295 after a 152 for an eight-stroke victory over Kevin Saclot and Kristoffer Arevalo, who turned in a 149 for a 303 while Adrian Romero and Raymart Tolentino finished third with a 312 after a 153 in the three-day tournament backed by Golf Depot, Callaway, Odyssey, Pacsports, Autohub, Empire Golf, Dynamic Sports and Titleist, the official ball.

Samantha Martirez and Chanelle Avaricio pooled a 156 and ended up with a 308 to complete a wire-to-wire triumph in the ladies side, three shots ahead of Bianca Pagdanganan and Pauline del Rosario, who also had a 156 and a 311, in the event conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Bunyi and Mendoza hobbled with 82 and 72, respectively, for a 158 as they tumbled to joint 10th at 297 with Aristeo Mata and Agustin Mata, who had a 153.

Jama Reyes and AR Ramos combined for a 146 for a 294 for sixth while Eric Gallardo and JP De Claro had a 295 after a 152 for seventh followed by Jan Tambogon and Rudy Amata (150-296) and Tommy Manotoc and RJ Talud (148-296).