BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Eastridge–Primehomes completed a dominant showing in the Regular Division as it swept the championships of the 75th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament, while Green Water Golfers held their nerve to secure the Fil-C title at the Baguio Country Club on Saturday.
Edison Tabalin once again turned Baguio Country Club into his personal playground, firing a one-over 35 points to lead Eastridge–Primehomes Team 1 to a 124-point closing round and a commanding 532-point total, good for a 32-point victory and a second straight Fil-Championship crown.
Tabalin topped the scorecard for the second consecutive day for the defending champions, with Ronel Taga-an adding 33 points, while Bobe Salahog and Miko Granada chipped in 29 and 27, respectively.
Januarius Golf Team settled for second with a 113-point final round and 500 total, led by Coby Rolida’s 31, while Terence Macatangay and Chuckie Hong posted matching 30s.
Batangas Barakos–Supremo claimed third place with a 470 total after closing with 105 points.
In the other Fil-Championship flight, Eastridge–Primehomes Team 2 edged sister team EGC–Primehomes by just two points, finishing with a 129-point final round for a 350 aggregate.
Ralph Ryan Batican and Patrick Gene Tambalque led the champions with 33 points each, while Vito Sarines and Gary Sales added 32 and 31, respectively.
EGC–Primehomes mounted a strong challenge with a flight-best 141, highlighted by a three-under 39 from AJ Wacan and a one-under 37 from Zianbeau Thrs Edoc, but settled for second with 348. Team M placed third with 310 after a 120-point finish.
Fil-C drama: Green Water Golfers redeem themselves
Denied the Amateur Championship Seniors title last week, Douglas Puckett and Suny Fontilea found redemption by teaming up with Eric Espadero and John Paul Puckett to capture the Fil-C crown.
Green Water Golfers closed with a 67-point round for a 247 total, enough to hold off the field. Fontilea led the charge with 23 points, Douglas Puckett added 19, while John Paul Puckett and Espadero contributed 11 each.
Puckett said weather disruptions played a role in the tournament’s drama, as the third round was cancelled after several flights failed to complete play due to rain.
“We were already finished, but many of the players in our flight were not,” Puckett said.
Fontilea said the victory was particularly meaningful after last week’s disappointment.
“It’s a different feeling winning here, especially at Baguio Country Club,” Fontilea said. “Losing the Seniors title was disappointing, so we really didn’t want this one to slip away.”
That disappointment fueled Green Water Golfers, who responded with an even stronger final round to seal the title.
Last week, Puckett’s team with Tommy Manotoc faltered on the final day and lost the Seniors crown to Mamala Bay.
Fil-Am League of Golfers Chicago 1 carded a 65 to finish second with 240, while Liloan – Let’s Golf Pare also shot 65 to take third with 235.
In Am-C, Gerco Builders emerged champions with a 216 total, closing with an 89-point round. Jay Bitao led with 26, followed by Aldrin Edar with 25, while Butch Lacson and Gabriel Bautista added 23 and 15, respectively.
Solid North narrowly edged Team Aquatico for second, scoring 81 for 204 against Aquatico’s 76 and 201
