By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY -- In a battle of wills that went down the last hole, Maxima/Komatsu survived a gritty Camp John Hay GC and take the centerpiece Fil-Championship title at the latter’s home course Tuesday.
It was a fitting finale for what could be the start of a rivalry that actually started last year when Maxima/Komatsu raked in 125 points and tie the home team’s four day total of 449 and tie the home club’s performance which closed down with 122.
Maxima/Komatsu, holdovers of last year’s three peat winners beat the same team with the same players.
“We fought a good fight and won. It was close,” said Maxima/Komatsu team captain Bayani Fontanilla, Jr. heaving a big sigh of relief after Florene de los Santos failed to make his par shots but settled for a bogey for 32 points as the team tied John Hay’s output in the five to play, four to count tournament.
It was a downer for CJH team general Nelson Eslao as he came out from a glitch and could have saved for a bogey at the last bole but fell short by six inches.
“The golf god and luck was on our side,”said Fontanilla as his team actually bucked back to back eagles by Bong Mandapat.
John Hay came to the fourth round three shot up after outshooting Maxima/Komatsu Wednesday by ten points.
Eduardo Sison led the new champion with 34, delos Santos with 32, Antonio Hernandez with 31 and 28 from Atoy Sarmienta. Freddie Mendoza had a 27 and did not count.
Jong Won Park and Fred Puckett paced the home team with 31, while Mandapat and Clyde Cabreros chipped in 30 a piece. Eslao, however, managed just 26 points and lost the title for the team through countback with the fifth man’s score as determinant of the winner.
“Everybody really did their part,” added Fontanilla as he said that they will come back in the event backed by Wilson, Rudy Project, Gatorade, the Department of Tourism, Golforce, ABW, CJH Manor, Rizgolf, University of Baguio, Le Chef, San Miguel Corporation, Coppertone, Philippine Retirement Authority, The Turf Company, Texas Eagle and Beam Global Spirits and Wine.
Over at the Baguio Country Club, when CJH was looking at Agojo Batang-gas as its likeliest opponent on the last day, ABW churned in the flight best of 85 points but fell a shot short of winning the title.
CJH instead went home with the Am Champ title after closing out with 80 for a four day aggregate of 368, three off ABW.
Rudy Lockey and Cha Moon Kyu paced the team with 23 points each, while Bong Jung Yong and Bob Patterson had 17 a piece to count for the team.
Agojo settled for third place with 347 after a closing round of 62.
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