Highlands bucks meltdown, gains WGAP Cup 4-peat

MANILA, Philippines - Tagaytay Highlands survived a horrendous stint in the Greensome format and watched chief rival Alabang struggle at the tough South Links course and a charging Sta. Elena fall short of its rally to compete a first-ever four-peat in the WGAP Cup recently.

The Highlands, who scored 3.5 points in the High-Low format at Mt. Malarayat and pooled three points in Best Ball at Orchard to stay in control, hobbled with just two all-square matches at the Las Piñas layout for a measly one-point output at the close of the three-leg event which pitted the top five clubs after the annual eight-leg WGAP Circuit presented by Champion Infinity and sponsored by Meralco.

But Alabang, which stayed within 1.5 points off Highlands after two legs, failed to cash in on Tagaytay’s poor form and also wound up with one point, enabling the Highlanders to clinch the victory with 7.5 points total and complete a record four straight championship in the event backed by Oakley and organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Sta. Elena rallied with three points but ended up tied with Alabang at second with six points while Canlubang matched Sta. Elena’s blazing finish to finish with 5.5 points. Forest Hills scored two points for a five-point aggregate in the final leg among Classes A and C players.

Sandy Romualdez and Marlene Varua salvaged an all-square match for Highlands against Sta. Elena’s Therese Dabao and Patty Kohchet-Chua, while Mailyn Flores and Erlinda Gamut of Highlands also held Cangolf’s Ikuko Kito and Kristine Kelley to a draw in their side of the duel.

Christine Naidoo and Rachel Shah nipped Highlands’ Grace Jung and Cathy Borja, 1-0, for Alabang’s lone point in the thrilling finale capping another successful season for the WGAP Circuit and the WGAP Cup.

Carina Ricamonte and Joey Co nipped Forest Hills’ Tess Staub and Nati Toribio, 4-3; and Daisy Jackes and Gia Suarez edged Alabang’s Marilyn Reyes and Ma. Elene Villanueva provided the two full points for Sta. Elena, which also drew half-a-point from Rio Co and Gina de Guzman from their all-square match with Cangolf’s Flordeliza Silao and Minerva Awitan.

Recy Barrientos and Debbie Schenk defeated Forest Hills’ Cecil Tan and Jee Cabochan, 2-1; while Vanessa Tsutsui and Therese Enriquez repulsed Alabang’s Christine Popp and Jops Melrose, 3-2, for Canlubang’s two victories.

Nelda Roguel and Pinky Obsuna turned back Alabang’s Rita Horan and Tess Yap, 2-1; while Christine Lava and Evelyn Alcantara downed Highlands’ Bern Wong and Margaret Tan, 4-3, to deliver the two points for Forest Hills.