BIZ BUZZ: Bad blood spills to other golf tourneys
After the Mango Tee tournament debacle at Alabang Country Club (ACC), bad blood between the politically entrenched families of Mark Leviste of Batangas, and Luis Raymond “LRay” Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, has spilled over to other golf events.
According to the grapevine, Leviste’s son Ronin Leviste—whose team had been stripped of Mango Tee top glory amid “statistically improbable” scores—was supposed to participate in another golf tournament south of Metro Manila in the coming weeks. The partner? Originally, it’s no other than a Villafuerte scion.
To recall, LRay Villafuerte has likewise been disqualified from the Mango Tee tournament. This was after topping Division 3 and standing second to Ronin’s overall net score.
Amid the brouhaha, it’s no surprise that the next-generation Villafuerte and Leviste would rather stay away from each other from hereon.
Biz Buzz sources said Villafuerte had promptly switched to a new partner for the upcoming tilt.
To recall, the elder Villafuerte, Camarines Sur governor, called for the expulsion of both Mark and Ronin Leviste from ACC for “conduct unbecoming” of a club member.
Ronin has been accused of sandbagging, while Mark (organizing committee vice chair) has been accused of enabling his son.
Villafuerte, in an earlier letter to the board, also demanded that he be cleared of any wrongdoing as he refuted charges that his tournament partner was a golf pro.
Unfortunately for both Leviste and Villafuerte teams, however, the ACC board unanimously affirmed its earlier decision to nullify the winnings.
Despite Villafuerte’s rebuttal, the board said the scores that had been submitted by Villafuerte and partner Edward Francisco during the eight-day tournament were likewise “highly unusual and statistically improbable.”
The board presented technical analyses that led to its decision to recall the awards earlier given to both teams.
Furthermore, the board cited testimony that Villafuerte’s partner, Francisco, had presented a professional license at another golf course (Hallow Ridge in Laguna) and identified himself as a coach.
“While this matter is separate from the scoring analysis, the existence and use of a professional license raises further concern regarding eligibility and the appropriate handicap classification for amateur competition,” said the ACC board in its four-page resolution.
Overall, the board cited its mandate and responsibility “to ensure that there is fair play in the Mango Tee and in all golf competitions, which was not duly observed and reflected in the way the two teams supposedly won.”
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