INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning titlist Riviera, Sta. Elena and Eastridge served notice of their championship potential by trashing their rivals in the opening matches of the 2009 Federation Golf League in various venues recently.

Riviera launched its campaign for a fifth league crown with an impressive 4-1 rout of two-time winner Royal Northwoods, finishing four matches in abbreviated fashion and yielding just the greensomes duel.

Sta. Elena, parading newly-crowned Philippine amateur senior champ Richie Garcia and jungolf sensation Miguel Tabuena, won a tough away match also in devastating style as the Cabuyao-based squad dealt Forest Hills a shock 3.5-1.5 slapping.

Eastridge showed no mercy to Wack Wack in a 5-0 blanking for the season?s first shutout victory with Ayi Beech-Ted Runes (greensome) and Junnel Roxas-Chez Roque (high-low) pulling off 1 up thrillers.

Manila Southwoods, Tagaytay Highlands and Orchard also posted 3-2 wins.

Southwoods survived sister team Sherwood Hills, last year?s losing finalist Highlands edged Canlubang behind the scramble win of Iggy Clavecilla and Pepe Lim and Orchard banked on the King Stehmeier and Dondo Primicias? win on the 18th hole in scramble to beat Valley.

Riviera, Orchard, Valley, Northwoods and Wack Wack are in Group 1 while Sta. Elena, Southwoods, Highlands, Sherwood Hills, Canlubang and Forest Hills are in Group II.

Matches resume this weekend with Southwoods hosting Sherwood, Forest playing at Sta. Elena, Canlubang tackling Highlands at home, Riviera going to Northwoods in Bulacan, Eastridge playing at Wack Wack and Valley hosting Orchard.