INQUIRER Sports

TAGAYTAY?The expected walk in the park became a tightrope act.

But Sta. Elena proved equal to the task with JP Reyes and Richard Yang coming through with the decisive point that secured for the Carmona-based parbusters their first Federation Golf League title Sunday.

Reyes and Yang came from behind to nip Windy Imperial and Dan Salvador in scramble play to complete a 6-4 victory over Tagaytay Highlands, which staged a brilliant final-day rally on its home course.

1-up victory

The conceded 1-up victory capped the two-day finals which started Saturday with Sta. Elena taking a huge 4-1 lead after losing only the greensome match at its well-manicured course in Carmona.

While Imperial and Salvador still had a chance to forge a tie on the 18th, the half point from the deadlock was enough to clinch the win for Sta. Elena.

?It was really a grind for us out there,? said team skipper Jeric Hechanova of Sta. Elena.
?I have to hand it to Highlands, they came out hard and fought really well. It really came down to the final flight.?

Highlands? drive

Highlands, which was also seeking to win the tournament for the first time, got going through the Alex Prieto-Iggy Clavecilla tandem in aggregate play which outclassed the Ritchie Garcia-Jason Lim team, 6 & 5.

That was the first of three victories for the day for Highlands, which also got a lift from Larry Patnogon and Bones Floro, who churned out a 1-up victory over insurance executive Paul Chuatico and Jett Mathay.

The other Highlands romp came courtesy of Greg Yong and Jens Tecson, a 4 & 3 whipping of Glenn de Leon and Selu Romero-Salas in high-low action that brought the teams level at 4-all.

Breaking the tie

Sta. Elena broke the tie as Miguel Tabuena and Terry McDonald posted a similarly lopsided 6 & 4 romp over the team of Lito Abierra and Pepe Lim for a 5-4 edge.

But Imperial and Salvador kept Highlands in the thick of the fight, even taking a one-hole lead over Reyes and Imperial with three holes to play.

Pulling level

Reyes, who went 5-0 for De La Salle University in its Match Play with Ateneo de Manila University over at the lower Midlands layout some four months ago, pulled Sta. Elena level on the 16th after drilling a 15-foot putt for birdie.

Yang responded on the next hole by knocking in his 20-foot birdie.
? I knew I hit a good putt,? said Yang.