Gutierrez, Gonzales top Highlands Ladies Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Glydel Mercado-Gutierrez turned in a gross 85 and captured the ladies crown while Tina Gonzales took the low net title with a 70 in the eighth Highlands Ladies Cup at Tagaytay Midlands Golf and Country Club recently.

Gutierrez, a 15-handicapper, wound up with a net 70 and bested Marie Guerrero, who made a gross 87 for a net 71 while Gonzales highlighted her round with three birdies in the annual event organized by Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter.

Doy Mercado fired a four-over 72 under overcast skies to clinch the low gross title while Howard Ching shot a gross 80 for a net 70 to edge Butch Bakunawa, who had a net 71 from a gross 78, for the Class A crown in the event sponsored by CATS Motors, exclusive distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the country, as Diamond sponsor and Security Bank, W Group Inc., Pacific Online and The SM Store (Platinum) and Pilipinas Shell and Baron Travel (Gold).

Rudy Bautista took the Class B plum with a gross 100 for a net 72, nipping Relly Antonio, who ended up with a net 73 from a similar gross of 100 while Rudy Gamut copped the seniors crown with a net 70 from a gross 81, beating Daki Fonacier, who had a 72 from a gross 82.

The fun hole winners were Gene de Jesus (longest drive-377 yards), Marissas Romano (longest drive-191 yards), Willy Vergara (nearest to the pin) and Andy Sanchez (most accurate drive).

The event, which staked a Royal Caribbean cruise on board the Mariner of the Seas, a US trip courtesy of Delta Air Line and a Piaggio Ape utility vehicle from Auto Hub for hole-in-one, also served as a fund-raiser for THLC’s favorite charity instituion, the Sisters of Mary boys and girls town center and the Pearl Buck Foundation in Silang, Cavite.

Other backers of the tournament were Petron, Midas Hotel, Smart, SM Prime Holdings and Comworks are the Silver backers while Regent Travel, Kawsek, Inc., RCW Construction, Ajisen Ramen, Marie France, Canon Marketing, Liwayway/Oishi, Orocan, Unilever, H&E Marketing, Merlo Agricultural Products, Francisco Varua, Bum Chil Heo, Kaiser Health, Hanford, Universal Robina, Concrete Masters and Unilab make up the Bronze list and Contempo, Splendido, Abby Lapid and Betchay Mendoza as donors.