Guban, Dela Cruz are month’s best

Mando Guban and Jun “Tiger” Dela Cruz saved their best for last, winning the December Ace Tournament of the Fil-Taga Golfers Association last Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Marianas Country Club.

The win allowed the duo hitch the last ride to the 2004 Fil-Taga Golfer of the Year Tournament, which will be played early in January. All winners of Fil-Taga’s monthly golf competition qualify for the season-ending event.

Guban actually finished second to William Retardo and tied George Sablan in A Flight. But since Retardo already won in March and Sablan had an inferior score in the tiebreak, Guban was handed the monthly plum.

Retardo, a 10-handicap player, shot the lowest net score of the day, carding a one-under 71.

Guban, for his part, was just two strokes behind Retardo, finishing with a one-over 73 after firing a gross score of 87. Sablan also netted a 73 but had a slightly higher gross score with an 88.

Completing the Top 5 in A Flight was Lito Mendoza, who came up with a net score of two-over 74 after shooting an 81 gross. A total of 15 golfers duked it out in A Flight.

Dela Cruz, meanwhile, edged Father Manny Corcuera for the championship in B Flight. He finished with a three-under 69 after carding a gross score of 87.

Corcuera, who also had an 18-handicap, came up a stroke short of Dela Cruz’s total and had to settle for runner-up honors following a two-under 70 performance.

Rene Batallones, Henry Bautista, and John Camacho make up the Top 5. Batallones fired a 71, Bautista a 74, and Camacho a 77. Twelve players participated in B Flight.

Winners of the monthly tournament in the A and B Flights automatically qualify for the Fil-Taga Golfer of the Year Tournament.

The winners of the Fil-Taga monthly tournament this year are: Ralph Yumul (January) and his father Jess (February), Retardo (A Flight, March), Ted Malaran (B Flight, March), Harry Kang (A Flight, April), Glenna Palacios (B Flight, April), Albert Pajarillaga (A Flight, May) and Nestor Siruelo (B Flight, May), Joe Miranda (A Flight, June), Father Manny Corcuera (B Flight, June), Rey Ferraz (A Flight, July), Sandy Palon (B Flight, July), Gil Faller (A Flight, August), Domeng Cariaso (B Flight, August), Sen. Pete Reyes (A Flight, September), Edgardo “Puy” Macario (B Flight, August), Jun Calma (A Flight, October), Tom Aguon (B Flight, October), Lito Mendoza (A Flight, November) and Ernie Lopez (B Flight).

Established in 1993, Fil-Taga’s tournaments operate under a computer-controlled handicap system that creates parity among players in the A and B Flights.

A Fil-Taga Ace of the Month champion is crowned monthly. Regular tournaments are scheduled once a month, normally every third Sunday. Green fees are in the $35 to $40 price range for most tournaments.