Legaspi powers Southwoods’ PAL Interclub romp

ILOILO—Mia Legaspi led a swashbuckling closing round by Manila Southwoods Masters yesterday as the Carmona-based squad repeated as Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies’ Interclub champion running away from Del Monte at Sta. Barbara here.

Legaspi fired a three-over-par 73 worth 51 points, Sunshine Baraquel added 48, and the prodigious Annika Cedo contributed a 43 for 142 and a 23-point victory over Del Monte.

Southwoods, which tallied a four-day total of 520, easily overhauled a 32-point deficit at the start of the third round by fielding its top three players. Abby Arevalo, the 12-year-old US Veritas champion, carried the fight for Southwoods in the first two rounds with 44s.

Apple Fudolin scored 44, Eva Miñoza chipped in with 43 and Rainstar Roque had a 35 for Del Monte’s final-day 125 and 497 overall. That made the Bukidnon-based bets runners-up for the second straight year.

“It was sweet victory for us,” skipper Beachie Abiera said. “The key was our decision to save our best players for the final two rounds.”

In the other battles, Cebu ruled the Founders division with 462, Tagaytay Highlands topped the Sportswriters with 434 and Apo Golf dominated Friendship with 360.

Legaspi, a battle-scarred teener with stints in so many tough events here and abroad, had five bogeys and two birdies that came on the fifth and 18th holes. Her 101 points easily made her the event’s individual champion.

“I was very comfortable with my swing today,” Legaspi said. “I was steady on the greens, which somehow explains my good score.”

The Iloilo edition of the revived PAL Ladies Interclub is sponsored by Airbus, 100 Plus, Summit Water, Avis Car Rental, Department of Tourism, Crossover 105.1, Radyo5, People Asia magazine and Solar Entertainment.

The final scores:
CHAMPIONSHIP—Manila Southwoods 116, 119, 143, 142 (520)  Del Monte 137, 130, 105, 125 (497)
FOUNDERS—Cebu 112, 109, 120, 121 (462), Alabang 1 104, 114, 101, 113 (432), Villamor 105, 100, 109, 112 (426), Negros 107, 105, 79, 128 (419), Sta. Elena 101, 111, 98, 100 (410) Singapore 83, 102, 96, 84 (365) Camp John Hay 91, 79, 98, 78 (346),  Pueblo 73, 79, 79, 88 (319)
SPORTSWRITERS—Tagaytay Highlands 109, 106, 111, 108 (434), Australia 63, 108, 88, 117 (376), Bacolod 93, 87, 97, 83 (360) Valley Ladies 98, 88, 80, 82 (348), Eagle Ridge 80, 85, 94, 85 (344), Mactan 84, 62, 89, 78 (313), Southwoods Legends 72, 81, 73, 75 (301)
FRIENDSHIP—Apo Golf 94, 100, 86, 80 (360), Camp Aguinaldo 73, 102, 75, 99 (349), Rancho Palos 95, 79, 75, 89 (338), Davao 69, 73, 95, 75 (312), Iloilo 78, 78, 77, 77 (310), Alabang 2 80, 78, 63, 89 (310), Team Japan 60, 56, 74, 83 (273), Victorias 57, 58, 80, 74 (269), Manila Golf 57, 57, 73, 70 (257)