MANILA, Philippines - Realtor Manny Angeles bucked the morning drizzle and the sizzling afternoon heat with steady shot-making and putting to come out victorious in the eighth MercedesTrophy National Final held at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Canlubang, Laguna.
Angeles toured the par-72 Sta. Elena layout with a tournament-best 46 points in the Stableford format to win the Class A title by seven over Secretary Roberto de Ocampo, in the Mercedes-Benz exclusive event by CATS Motors, Inc.
Angeles actually had a grand time at Sta. Elena as he aced Hole No. 24 for his first career hole-in-one, a first at the MercedesTrophy, using a TaylorMade 5-iron and a Titleist Pro V1x ball. He was rewarded with a TW Steel watch and a signature golf bag. He missed the ML350 AMG as it was offered on other holes.
For their 1-2 finish, Angeles and De Ocampo qualified for the MercedesTrophy Asian Final set this August in Queensland, Australia. Heading the Philippine contingent are CATS Motors president Felix Ang and PR director Emy Arcilla.
Set to join them in the Asian Final are IT firm CEO Lawrence Cobankiat and entrepreneur Michael Angelo Antonio, who topped Classes B and C, respectively, and their runners-up – businessmen John Casey and Louie Banson.
Cobankiat wound up with 39 while Antonio came through with a 38 in the event sponsored by PLDT, Shell V-Power Nitro+, Makati Shangri-La, Seaboard Insurance, Arrow Shirts and TW Steel.
Bernie Gan netted 44 to capture the ladies plum while Marcus Knoll and Shangri-La Makati general manager Reto Klausser wound up 1-2 in the sponsors division. Kit Angeles and restaurateur Richie Santos topped the guest category.
Sta. Elena Properties, Security Bank, Duty Free, Johnnie Walker, Canon Philippines, Asia Brewery, Impact and Business Mirror were backers.