Mata bags crown

ARIS Mata saved his best for the third round, firing a 72 to bag the overall title in the 8th Alta Vista Golf and Country Club Jungolf Challege over the weekend with a 152.

Mike T. Limpag

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Mata opened with a 35 and closed out with a 37 for his 72, the best round for the day. Mata, who had an 80, in the second day, opened with a 79 in the first round but his second and last rounds were good enough for the overall title. Only the last two rounds were counted for the lowest gross title.

In Class A, Cebu Country Club’s (CCC) Gen Nagai continued his solid round with a 77 to take the title with his 230, just one ahead of Mata. David Park, the first-day leader who stumbled with an 82 in the second day, settled for third place with his 78 to finish with 234.

In Class A, AVGCC’s Erick Lim romped away with the title with 233 (77-79-77) and was the only one to hit under 90 in the third round. Apple Fudolin was a distant second with 241 after yesterday’s 83, while Chanelle Avarico of TJGL got third place with 242 (83-76-83.)

In Class B, Weiwei Gao earned another title for the host with 233 (76-81-76), an impressive 42 strokes ahead of second placer Marlon Santiago 275 (85-93-97) of Del Monte. Nico Canlas, also of Del Monte, was third with 277 (89-100-88).

LK Go survived Samantha Martirez of TJGL to win the title for CCC with 236 (78-81-77), just one ahead of the second placer, who had 78 yesterday to finish with 237.

On the other hand, Del Monte ruled Class C with Jets Sajulga taking the boys crown and Sofia Chabon winning the girls title. Sajulga finished with 152 (76-76), to beat Aidric Chan by five, while Weiyu Gao got third place with 163 (83-80). Chabon had 148 (72-76) to win by 19 over Junia Gabasa.

In Class D, Josh Jorge took the boys title, while Weifang Gao got the girls’ crown and in Class E, CCC’s Tatsuyoshi Ochiai won the boys title, while Anica Alfonso got the girls title.

In the special division, Gus Mata had a third consecutive round under 80 to win the title with 233 (79-77-77). Del MOnte’s Jethro Armila got second with 269 (89-87-93).

In the team contest, it was also a runaway win for Alta Vista as they beat Del Monte 1 by nine strokes. Aris Mata, Weiwei Gao, Park and Lim sizzled with a 303 to snatch the title from Del Monte with 625.

Del Monte’s Fudolin, Jelbert Gamolo, Pamela Mariano and Sajulga had the lead after the second day with 312 but stumbled with a 322 yesterday to settle for second with 634.