INQUIRER Sports

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines--Claudine Garcia shot a hole-in-one but ironically didn't count as her three teammates combined to power Manila Southwoods-Masters to an explosive finish in the 5th Camp John Hay Asian Ladies championship at the Camp John Hay Golf course here.

Bernadette Abiera submitted a team-best 51 points while Kat Gonzales and Claire Ong had 50 each as Manila Southwoods posted a day-best 151 total to retain its championship by 15 points over Orchard-Palmer.

Garcia, who scored her first-ever ace on the 130-yard 18th hole, finished with 45 points under the Modified Stableford system but failed to help the team since only the top three scorers counted.

"Our trip was worth it," said Southwoods skipper Nini Samaniego. "We did not expect to win by a large margin."

The champion squad from Carmona, Cavite, finished with a three-round total of 437 points with former jungolf star Kat Gonzales, now 21, highlighting the romp by clinching the individual title with 156.

Orchard-Palmer managed only 140 despite 52 points from Princess Mary Superal, who finished second in individual play.

Superal's sister Crystal Faith contributed 47 and Tina Gonzales' 41 rounded out the scoring for Orchard-Palmer (422).

Aguinaldo HyperX was third with 404 points followed by Valley South with 377 and Forest Hills with 363.

Tagaytay Highlands stormed to the Group II crown, also by 15 points, over host Camp John Hay 1.

Len Yaptangco had 48 points while Hedy See and Malene Flores scored 43 and 41, respectively, for Tagaytay which assembled a 379 total. John Hay had 364 for second and Riviera 356 for third.

In Group III, Korean Team 1 beat CJH4 by 69 points with a 368 total. Camp John Hay 3 was third with 276.

Tagaytay Belles squeaked past Valley Executive, 278-276, for the Group IV title. Alabang 2 was third with 255.