Manila Southwoods nails 4-peat in WGAP tilt

BACOLOD—Manila Southwoods closed out with a second straight 223 to thwart Del Monte for the second straight year and annex a record four straight championship in the WGAP Luzvimin golf tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here Friday.

Sunshine Baraquiel capped a superb 54-hole, above 50-point performance with 53 Molave points while Regine de Guzman and Lora Roberto provided solid backup with 48 and 47 points, respectively, as the Southwoods ladies totaled 681 to beat Del Monte by nine points in the centerpiece Diamond division.

Marie Claire Ong and Bernadette Abiera added 41 and 34 points, respectively, as Southwoods, which earlier pooled a 235 and 223, extended its reign that started here in 2008 before dominating the field in Boracay and Del Monte.

Lovelyn Guioguio and Apple Fudolin shot identical 51 points for Del Monte’s 227 but the 13-point deficit proved too much to overcome, leaving the Bukidnon-based squad with another runner-up finish at 672.

Other scorers were Eva Miñoza (47), Pamela Mariano (42) and Taj Kay Tabanas (36).

Mactan Island, led by Rachel Burlas-Darnel’s 44 points and the 42 by Geraldine Ash, placed third with a 479 after a 158 while Victorias shot 122 and wound up fourth with a 403 followed by Davao City Golf (137-393), Davao Apo (110-359) and Baguio (98-312).

Baraquiel, a member of the ICTSI golf team, also ran away with the individual title with a 156, which included a 51 and 52, as she ended De Guzman’s three-year reign in the annual event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Sta. Elena saved its best for last and pooled a 185, completing its fightback from third place to retain the crown in the Ruby category with a 541. It edged two-day leader Negros Occidental by just two points.

Bacolod took the Pearl division crown with a 513 after a 163, beating Riviera by 24 points.