Beacon topples Lyceum-Cavite, captures inter-schools diadem

MANILA, Philippines - Beacon Academy rallied with a 142 as it came from behind to beat Lyceum-Cavite by eighth and capture the NGAP’s first Inter-Scholastics Invitational golf championship crown at Canlubang’s South course in Laguna over the weekend.

Gabriel Manotoc hit a two-under 70 Saturday while Basti Lorenzo carded a pair of even par 72s as Beacon Academy pooled a 72-hole 588 total for an eight-shot romp over Lyceum in the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Santi Lorenzo, elder brother of Basti, actually fired a 74 and was the second man that counted for Beacon in the final day, but the 15-year-old Manotoc, counting earlier rounds of 72 and 74, still ran away with the individual title despite a final day 80.

Lawrence Celestino had a 72 and Wolen Superal a 74 for Lyceum which settled for second with 596 in the event held as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour and backed by Pancake House, Nike, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

La Salle-Greenhills, the leader after the first two rounds, floundered in the final weekend with a 152 and finished third, 12 strokes behind. JP De Claro skied to an 84 while Luigi Guerrero hobbled with a 78.

De La Salle University had a 157 and wound up fourth another 12 shots behind.

LSGH came into the final Saturday holding a three-shot lead over Lyceum with Beacon in third. But Manotoc led a big third round rally, anchoring his squad to a tournament-best 142 for the day.

That was 13 shots better than Lyceum-Cavite, which got a 77 from Celestino and a 78 from Carlos Tinio as Superal wavered with an 84 and failed to count for the first time for his team.