Lopez, Castillo, Bonilla, Laurel top PSA golf tourney
Former national champion Bong Lopez shot a System 36 net one-under par 71 on a gross of 79 at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course to reign as overall champion in the 4th Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup golf invitational on Monday.
Now a swing coach to some of the country’s top players, Lopez won via countback over Shakey’s Super League president Ian Laurel in the annual tournament held to strengthen the relationship between sportswriters and the officials they cover.
The Inquirer’s Musong Castillo beat SPIN.ph’s Dodo Catacutan in a countback for the Class A title after both fired net 72s, with former Bulletin sports editor Ding Marcelo placing third with a 74 in the 18-hole tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Manila Southwoods, Premier Volleyball League and former Filipinas team manager Jeff Cheng as major sponsors.
In the closely fought Class B, Bulletin sports editor Ramon Bonilla beat Rocky Nazareno, also of the Bulletin, in a countback after posting net 80s, with Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran checking in one shot back in third place.
Winning guests
Laurel matched Lopez’s net 71 with an 82 to win the Friends Division title, also via countback over Polylite’s Marvin Gonzales (85). Former Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta finished two shots back in third.
A special guest was Lito Tacujan, the former Star sports editor who is acknowledged as the father of PSA media golf.
Hosted by Manila Southwoods for the fourth time, the event was also supported by the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa), Polylite, San Miguel Corp., Al Panlilio, Athletic Events Sports Managements (Aces) Inc., Nonong Araneta, ITCSI, Bong Lopez, Virgil Villavicencio, the PBA, the Best Center, BingoPlus, Pin High Golf and MacBeth.
