TRECE Martirez, Cavite— Dream Team, dream result.
The best Philippine team put together in years was unrelenting to the very end, pooling a 7-under-par 209 yesterday to end a 17-year Putra Cup title drought with a record 22-stroke victory over Singapore at soggy Sherwood Hills here.
Rico Hoey fired a 4-under 68, Jobim Carlos was solid with a 70 and either 71s of Rupert Zaragosa and Jonathan delos Reyes counted as the third score for the Philippines, which reclaimed Southeast Asia’s official team golf championship after winning it last in 1996 in Myanmar.
“Oh, yeah!” Hoey exclaimed, moments after counting as the team’s top man for the day. “It feels so good. This is the homecoming that I expected—winning this tournament for our country.”
Singapore, which was tied for first with the Philippines after Day 1, submitted a 217 built around the 68 of Jonathan Woo for 864 overall and nipped a hard-finishing Thailand crew that tallied 211 on the strength of the 69 of Danthai Boonma and the 70 of Itthipat Buranatanyarat.
The veteran Jerome Ng carded a 73 and Mark Ong added a 76 for the 2011 champion Singaporeans, who threw away the 79 of Nicklaus Chiam. Saksansin Poom was the third scorer for Thailand with 72.
Malaysia dropped to fourth despite a third consecutive 68 by Gavin Green, tallying a 225 for the day for 873, nine behind the deposed champion Thais.
Abel Tam scored a 75, but the Malaysians were again dragged down by their third man, Khai Jei Low, who couldn’t do better than an 82.
Green, a 6-foot, University of New Mexico ace in the US NCAA, pooled 274 and won the individual title by three shots over Delos Reyes, who hit two drives out of bounds on the 17th, allowing the Malaysian to finally forge ahead.
Hoey, despite opening with a 75, finished third after playing the final three rounds at 11-under.
“There’s no better feeling, winning this title back on home soil,” said National Golf Association of the Philippines president Tommy Manotoc, a member of several victorious PH squads who left no stone unturned in recruiting Fil-Americans Hoey and Delos Reyes to reinforce the national squad.
“This team has just lifted the standards of Philippine and Putra Cup golf.”
The country’s Kartini (Junior Women’s) and Santini (Women’s) Cup teams fell short in their respective divisions, though, with the girls struggling to a final-round 151 to lose to Thailand, 577-582. Pauline Del Rosario had a 75 and Bianca Pagdanganan a 76. The 80 of Princess Superal was discarded.
Malaysia triumphed in the women’s division after pooling a 139, one stroke clear of perennial champion Thailand.
Katrina Briones scored a 74 and Regina de Guzman fired a 77 for the Philippines’ final-round 151 and 593 overall.
The 72-hole championship was backed by the Royal & Ancient of Scotland, MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT Amateur Golf Tour, PSC, POC, Philippine Golf Foundation, DOT, Pancake House, Asia Brewery, Turf Company, Sligo, Ping, Intramachineries Doosan, Suntrust, Crimson Hotel and Golf Depot.
FINAL STANDINGS
Putra Cup (Men)
840—Philippines (68-70-71—209); 862—Singapore (68-73-76—217); 864—Thailand 69-70-72—211); 873—Malaysia 68-75-82—225); 877— Hong Kong (68-68-76—212); 896—Indonesia 73-76-76—225); 949—Papua New Guinea (78-79-84— 241); 961—Brunei Darussalam (76-82-82—240).
Lion City Cup (Junior Men)
580—Thailand (73-77—150); 590—Indonesia (72-72—144); 599—Malaysia (73-78—151); 600— Philippines (74-75—149); 617—Singapore (72-77— 149); 647—Hong Kong 80-80—160); 685—Brunei Darussalam (82-87—169).
Santi Cup (Women)
576—Malaysia (69-70—139); 577—Thailand (72-72—144); 593—Philippines (74-77—151); 594— Singapore (75-77—152); 601—Hong Kong (70-70—150); 620—Indonesia (75-79—154); 709— Brunei Darussalam (87-88—175).
Kartini Cup (Junior Women)
577—Thailand (72-74—146); 582—Philippines (75-76—151); 597—Indonesia (73-77—150); 615— Hong Kong (72-80—152); 635—Malaysia (81-83— 164); 642—Singapore (84-85—169).