Limjap, Sales forge NTCC duel

TOP SEED Justin Limjap of Valley and defending champion Gary Sales of Villamor fought back from near-impossible situations yesterday to arrange a showdown for the men’s division crown in the Philippine Golf Foundation National Tournament of Club Champions at Wack Wack East course.

Limjap was given up for lost with a four-hole deficit after 12 holes but won five holes in a row to beat Kim Jong-dee of Eagle Ridge while Sales, two down with four to go, rallied to deny Junnel Roxas of Eastridge 1-up after 20 holes in a pair of semifinal matches in the searing summer heat.

Leana Farrales of Canlubang and Matet Salivio of Aguinaldo forged a duel for the ladies’ title while Chito Laureta of Valley set up a clash with Raci Razon of Alta Vista for the senior plum in the finals of the event at Anvaya Cove Resort course in Morong, Bataan.

No. 2 Farrales banked on her better knowledge of the course, where she is also a member, to dominate top seed Mela Lee of Ayala Greenfield-Sta. Elena, 7 and 6.

Salivio reached the finals after the sales executive of Toyota Calamba ended the bid of Jo Barredo of Villamor, last year’s losing finalist, via a 4-and-3 decision.

Laureta used his edge off the tee to bundle out seniors top seed Joe Gonzales of Orchard 3 and 2. Meanwhile, 66-year-old Razon, a former pilot, leaned on his consistency to trip retired general Poch Lukban of Splendido, 2 and 1.

All six finalists will have two days to rest before the Anvaya finals of the tournament backed by Petron, Champion, Sta. Lucia Land, Philippine Airlines and Seiko as major sponsors, American Tourister and Gatorade as minor sponsors and GG&A ClubShares, Federation of Philippine Golf Club, Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines, ICTSI, Kopiroti, Mikaela Trophies and RizGolf Marketing as prize sponsors.

“I really thought I was done; it was Kim who gave it to me,” said Limjap, a day after he eliminated friend Mark Dy from Cebu Country Club with a five-birdie barrage in seven holes in the quarterfinals at South Forbes in Silang, Cavite.

Five consecutive bogeys did Kim in.

Sales, aiming to become just the third back-to-back winner here, survived for another day after Roxas squandered what seemed like a comfortable lead with four holes to play.

It was a bogey from the fringe by Roxas on their return trip to No. 2 that ended the day’s longest match. He fell short by about three feet, then missed the putt.

“I was just waiting for him to make a mistake,” said Sales. “Fortunately, the momentum swung in my favor.”