GARY Sales, Jo Barredo and retired general Remegio de Vera put Villamor on track for a rare sweep of the three divisions after posting contrasting wins yesterday to barge into the semifinals of the Philippine Golf Foundation National Tournament of Club Champions.
Playing at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods—the fourth of six host venues of the tourney, Sales pulled off a 6&4 rout of Brixton Aw of Riviera. Barredo was also impressive in a 5&4 demolition of former champion Diane Jang of the host club while De Vera made it 3-for-3 for Villamor by ousting Edgar Dinio of Beverly Place Pampanga, 3&2.
In today’s semis at the Palmer course of the Orchard Golf & Country Club, Sales battles Joseph Tambunting of Manila Southwoods, De Vera collides with Oh Jie-Sik of Orchard and Barredo takes on ladies top seed Rita Horan.
Horan foiled the upset bid of Gilda Medestomas of Riviera and Anvaya. No. 2 seed Jung Hee-kyung of Tagaytay Highlands, who survived 2012 winner Mela Lee of Ayala Greenfield, will meet Maricel Amor of Royale Tagaytay, who won over Matet Salivio of Aguinaldo by default.
Arnold Duay, the seniors top seed from Valley, battles Bong Sison of Southwoods while Niko Santiano of Ayala Greenfield squares off with men’s No. 6 Ricky delos Santos in the other semis tiffs of the tourney revived after a two-year hiatus by Inquirer Golf with the major backing of the Philippine Golf Foundation.
The other sponsors are Champion, Petron, Haier, GG&A ClubShares, Nike, Mizuno, TaylorMade and Sta. Lucia Land. Texas Eagle/Turf Co. is the hole-in-one sponsor.
Niko Santiano won his second straight match by ousting Alan Alegre (Summit Point) 5&3.
In the other men’s results, Tambunting survived Mangulabnan of Royal Northwoods, 3&2, while delos Santos had a tougher time against Gerald Katigbak of Mt. Malarayat in a 2&1 victory.
Katigbak’s father Katy, also of Mt. Malarayat, lost to Oh, 3&2.
Sison turned back Mike Ilano of Royale Tagaytay 6&4 to earn a crack at Duay, who beat Ed Abesamis of Tagaytay Highlands 2&1
Winners of today’s semifinals matches will dispute the crown tomorrow at Sta. Elena in Cabuyao, Laguna.