Ababa tops Montecillo Cup 36-hole elims

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Ababa pooled a 156 to hold off Marvi Monsalve by three and top the second Montecillo Cup 36-hole qualifying tournament at the Ayala Greenfield Golf and Leisure Club in Calamba, Laguna over the weekend.

Ababa, a member of the ICTSI golf squad, strung up a pair of 78s at the wind-raked layout to outlast Monsalve, who assembled a 159 from rounds of 79-80, in the centerpiece Class A division.

Daniella Uy, who topped the recent Philippine International Junior Golf Championships, also at Ayala Greenfield, settled for third with a 162 from rounds of 80-82.

The troika thus advanced to the Montecillo Junior International Golf Team Championship slated March 5-9 at the Orchard’s Palmer course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Andie Unson won the individual crown while the ICTSI squad took the team championship in last year’s inaugurals of the event, held in honor of the late Amalia “Mommy” Montecillo, the woman behind the rise of the jungolf movement in Asia.