Orchard outplays Alabang, nails breakthrough victory

Orchard finally captured its first championship in 18 years after beating Alabang, 7.5-4.5, in their home-and-away duel for the Federation Golf League crown recently.

A big away point delivered by the seniors tandem and an outstanding play by its usual reliables helped Orchard best Alabang in what turned out to be a happy duel between teams whose players hang out in the two clubs.

Senior players Ryan Abdon and Lee Jun-bae won the greensomes match in Orchard’s 4-2 thumping of their rivals at Alabang.

Raymund Sangil and Rodel Mangulabnan then proved their worth as the main men for the Orchard side by accounting for two full points each with different partners in greensomes and high-low.

Sangil teamed up with Aian Arcilla for a 4-2 win on the first day and then with Nico Sevilla for a 5-and-4 rout the next day while Mangulabnan claimed two blowout wins, the first a 7-and-6 result with JP de Claro and then an 8-and-7 triumph with Niko Santiano.

Abdon and Lee surprised JB Garcia and Daniel Roa, 3 and 2, in the second greensome match to fire up Orchard after De Claro-Mangulabnan had made short work of Lorenzo Guerrero and Anthony See.

The other combinations fielded by Orchard captain Francis Montallana—Arcilla and Sangil (greensomes) and Jama Reyes and  Liam Cully (best-ball) posted 4-and-3 and 2-and-1 wins, respectively, to complete the rout.

Needing just 2 1/2 points in their visit to Alabang the next day, Orchard went all the way.

Mangulabnan and Santiano got to the clubhouse early and the pairs of Sangil-Sevilla (5 and 4) and De Claro-Marvin Caparros (4 and 3) followed suit in greensomes to secure the title.

“The combinations we used were not too different from the previous ones we played but credit really goes to our seniors who provided the inspiration,” said Montallana of his senior pair which also starred in Orchard’s mastery of Wack Wack in the semifinals.

Alabang, which was seeking its second title since its own 2003 breakthrough, won over Valley in the Final 4. Valley and Wack Wack entered the semifinals as co-champions after their finals duel was called off due to darkness.