No sweat in chilly Baguio as Southwoods claims PAL Ladies crown

11TH PAL LADIES INTERCLUB CHAMPION-MANILA SOUTHWOODS-(from left to right): Pauline del Rosario, Sofia Chabon, Bernice Ilas, Serafina Kim, team captain Claire Ong, Lora Roberto and Mikhaela Fortuna. PHOTO FROM INQUIRER GOLF

BAGUIO—With overnight rains and thick fog enveloping this summer capital yesterday, Manila Southwoods-Masters extended its unprecedented PAL Ladies Interclub reign without breaking a sweat after final round play was called off at the Camp John Hay layout.

Tournament director Henry Arabelo deemed it best to cut the tournament to 54 holes with visibility practically zero until mid-morning, formally giving the Carmona-based lasses a sixth straight championship with Cebu Country Club winding up second yet again.

“Of course we wanted to play,” playing skipper Claire Ong, who would have gone out for the final 18 holes together with spearhead Pauline del Rosario said. “We’re nevertheless happy to win. We don’t get tired of winning.”

Crystal Faith Neri of Cebu CC, though, was crowned the individual champion after shooting a three-under-par 65 worth 57 points in the first round. It would have been an interesting clash with Del Rosario, who scored 56 in the second round, had the final round been held.

SW-Masters tallied 460 points, its finest showing coming in the third round on Thursday when it shot 155 built around the level 54 of teener Mikhaela Fortuna.

Cebu CC finished 35 points behind, failing to muster a solid enough charge even if SW-Masters played two of the first three days with just three players with Andrea Pineda failing to make the trip.

“Yes, we will be trying to win a seventh (title) next year,” Ong said, although she bared that Del Rosario, in all likelihood, will be out of the squad because she has plans of turning pro at the end of the year.