Bautista notches Fil-Taga Ace of Aces title

Ace of Aces champion Henry Bautista, second right, joins Fil-Taga Golfers Association members for a group photo before heading out to the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort course for the first round of the season-ending tournament. (Contributed Photo)

Henry Bautista recorded the best net score in the Fil-Taga Golfers Association’s two-weekend tournament to clinch the group’s Ace of Aces award.

The 16-handcapper shot a net 65 in the second and final round of the season-ending competition last Saturday at the Kingfisher Golf Links to finish the two-round competition with a net 138. Bautista had a 73 in the first round of play at the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort last Jan. 16 and was in sixth place in the rankings—four strokes behind Round 1 top finisher Hak Chon Bae.

Bae, who sports a 14 handicap, ended up settling for second place after last Saturday’s finale, as he carded a net 74 in the second round for a total net of 143. Bae had a 42 and 43 on the front and back nines in Round 1 for a gross 85, but failed to keep the lead when he posted a 46 on the front and 42 on the back for a gross 88 in Round 2.

Henry Bautista, center, receives his trophy from Tony Cabrera, left, and Ruben Avendano during the awards ceremony for the Fil-Taga Golfers Association Ace of Aces Tournament last Saturday. (Contributed Photo)

Bautista, whose 73 in the opening round came from his 41 in the first nine holes at Laolao and 48 in the last for a gross 89, played better at Kingfisher when he hit a 40 and 41 on the front and back nines for a gross 81.

Joining Bautista and Bae in the Top 3 was Ruben Avendano, who finished the two-round event with a net 144. The 20-handicapper Avendano was ranked second after the first round with his net 70 (46 and 44 on front and back nines for a gross 90), but slid to third when he recorded a net 74 in the final round after firing a 46 and 47 (gross 93) at Kingfisher.

Meanwhile, other participants in Fil-Taga’s club championship were Freddie Cataluna (146), Lito Mendoza (146), Albert Pajarillaga (147), Dan Ganacias (151), Ronnie Santos (153), Edgar Abalos (154), Ed Varias (155), William Retardo (158), and Ernie Lopez (82/did not play in the second round).

Fil-Taga also held its January Ace Tournament last Saturday with Bautista earning twin wins, as his net 65 was five strokes ahead of Jess Yumul’s net score. The 26-handicapper Yumul tallied a 47 on the front nines and 49 on the back for a gross 96 and net 70—one shot up against third place Mike Cruz.

Cruz, a 19-handicapper and logged 43 and 47 on the front and back nines, had a closest to the pin shot on hole No. 8. Other closest to the pin winners were Ganacias, Tony Cabrera, and Cataluna on holes No. 6, 12, and 15, respectively.