Daily Tribune
Photograph by Adrian Flores for the Daily Tribune. Luisita team members Abe Rosal, Rodel Mangulabnan, Chino Raymundo, Dan Cruz and Benjie Sumulong pose with team captain Jeric Hechanova (third from left) after winning the Fil-Championship division of the 73rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational.
BAGUIO CITY — Luisita put on a great finish to coast to a 19-point victory against rival Manila Southwoods in the Fil-Championship of the 73rd Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational Thursday at the Baguio Country Club.
The Tarlac-based squad submitted 114 points, getting 33 points from Abe Rosal, 20 from Rodel Mangulabnan, 27 from Chino Raymundo and 25 from Dan Cruz. Luisita wound up with 494.
The triumph of Luisita completed its mission of winning the country's two team championships. Earlier this year, it conquered the Philippine Airlines Interclub in Cebu.
"That was our goal this week, to have the Interclub and Fil-Am crowns in one year. The guys really played their hearts out to accomplish it," said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova.
Manila Southwoods (104-475) was led by the 31 of Junjun Plana, 26 of Bong Brobio, 25 of Raul Miñoza and 22 of Theody Pascual.
"Luisita played better at the stretch, especially when action shifted to BCC," Southwoods skipper Freddie Mendoza said.
The Southwoods' quintet in the Am-Championship gave the team a reason to still celebrate as it came through with an easy triumph over last year's runner up Srixon-IMG.
For the second straight day, Joseph Tambunting topscored for Southwoods with 34. Monet Garcia supported with 30 and Monet Garcia and Raul Magpantay each added 26 for 116 and 428.
