JP Reyes and Rodel Mangulabnan forged a showdown for the men’s championship even as Terry McDonald watched his semifinal foe send his senior bid into the water on the final hole in Friday’s Philippine Golf Foundation National Tournament of Club Champions (NTCC) at Splendido Taal.
Reyes, a double champion representing Sta. Elena and Manila Golf, and Forest Hills bet Mangulabnan, lived up to their top billings by disposing of Brixton Aw of Riviera (3&1) and King Stehmeier of Orchard (5&4) in contrasting fashion Friday, setting up Sunday’s showdown.
They will play for the crown at the Player course of Orchard, where Sta. Elena bet McDonald duels with Allan Alegre of Summit Point and Claire Ong of Manila Southwoods meets Leana Farrales of Wack Wack in the other two finals tiffs.
It was British permanent resident McDonald who escaped with the tightest win for the day in the Inquirer Golf-organized tournament also supported by San Miguel Corp., Texas Eagle, Callaway, Cleveland, Megafiber, Ladera and La Esquina.
Losing a two-hole lead with three to go, McDonald teed off on the par-5 18th all square with Oh Jie-sik of Eagle Ridge and appeared in bigger trouble when he hit his third shot way past the flag.
Oh had a simple 80-yard wedge shot to seal his foe’s doom but he chunked his shot with the ball hitting a wall and bouncing into the water.
Farrales went through a scary fall before she teed off after slipping and banging her head hard in the locker room. She needed a cold compress on her head for a few holes but that was the only worry Farrales had the entire day as Alabang bet Rita Robina’s poor putting allowed her to secure a 3&2 win.
Ladies’ top seed Ong continued her impressive march, this time eking out a 4&3 domination of Karen Buenaventura of Tagaytay Midlands.
Alegre also had an easy time showing the door to Rene Chua of Wack Wack, 4&3.