MANILA, Philippines—Alabang pulled off a win and a runner-up finish at Ayala Greenfield last week to post a whopping nine-point lead over Tagaytay Highlands and virtually retain the overall championship in the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) circuit.
The Alabang ladies nipped the Highlanders, 122-121, in a thrilling showdown in Class C then edged Forest Hills, 141-140, in a down-to-the-wire battle for runner-up honors in Class A for a five-point output that hiked their points total to 35 heading to the final leg of the eight-stage circuit at Sta. Elena.
Tagaytay Highlands, which closed to within eight points off Alabang with a solid stint at Valley in the sixth leg of the series, settled for a pair of second-place finishes, including in Class B, for a 26-point aggregate.
With a nine-point lead, Alabang needs only to turn in at least one third place finish to wrap up the championship for the second straight year.
Forest Hills, which also placed third in Class B, remained in third with 19 points while Sta. Elena, which dominated Class A, is in fourth with 15 followed by AFP (12), Canlubang (8), Villamor (6), Valley Golf (5) and Orchard and Riviera.
Villamor’s Marissa Romano made 39 points to cop the leg’s individual crown in Class A while Ofelia Carlos of Alabang and Valley Golf’s Kwon Young Ok took the Class B and C titles with 42 and 40 points, respectively.
Carlota Nemec shot 41 Stableford points while Carmela Lee, Carina Ricamonte and Rio Co added 40, 37 and 36 as Sta. Elena pooled a 154 to forge a 13-point romp over Alabang, which had a 141, in Class A. Forest Hills placed third with a 140.
Jang Eun Sil and Marilyn Reyes fired 36 points apiece while Finina Gorres and Joan Morales scored 35 and 34 points, respectively, for Alabang.
Kim Mi Hee Kwak, Grace Atienza, Cristina Lava and Tess Staub made 38, 35, 34 and 33, respectively, for Forest Hills, which tied Alabang but won the countback for third place.
Jee Cabochan, Violeta Pegels, Celia Hizon and Evelyn Alcantara shot 41, 39, 35 and 32 points, respectively, as Forest Hills assembled a 147 for a three-point victory over Tagaytay Highlands in Class B.
Rosario Dimson and Marlene Varua scored 38 points each while Lilibeth de Villa and Mely Leyeza had 35 and 33 points, respectively, for the Highlanders.
Nancy Co and Marit Yuchengco each scored 38 points and Maria Oliquino and Amelia Ward added 34 and 32 points, respectively, for Sta. Elena’s 142 total for third.