Retardo, Bautista are Fil-Taga aces for January

Golfers William Retardo and Henry Bautista started the new year with a bang as the two topped their divisions to claim glory in the Fil-Taga Golfers Association January Ace of the Month Tournament last Sunday at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort east course.

Fil-Taga held the tournament simultaneously with the second round of its 2005 Golfer of the Year contest, where Bautista finished in a first place tie with Jhun Calma.

Retardo, who also vied for the Fil-Taga Golfer of the Year crown, placed his ball well throughout the 18 holes and finished with a respectable gross score of 78. His number of strokes then decreased because of his nine handicap, resulting in a net score of 69, which was best in Division A, which comprises of players whose handicaps are between 0-16.

For his part, Bautista made a strong run at both titles as he fired a gross score of 85. After subtracting 19 strokes because of his handicap, Bautista wound with a division-best net score of 66 to take the B Division ace title.

Right behind Bautista was Calma, who shot an 84 and finished with a net score of 67 courtesy of his 17 handicap. Golfer of the Year tournament first round leader Tom Aguon placed a close third in the B Division contest as he finished with a net score of 69 after shooting an 89 and sporting a 20 handicap.

Other competitors in the ace tournament with their net score in parenthesis include Nestor Siruelo (69), George Sablan (71), Glenna Palacios (71), Freddie Cataluna (71), James Lin (71), Father Manny Corcuera (72), Rene Batallones (74), Lito Mendoza (74), Lito Mendoza (74), Edgar Abalos (77), Ted Malaran (78), Sen. Pete Reyes (78), Will Maui (78), Joe Miranda (79), Rey Ferraz (83), Jess Yumul (83), Greg de Torres (84), Jun “Tiger” Dela Cruz (85), Cesar Dumatol (86), Alsree Chiong (87), Nono Bostre (88), and Ed “Puy” Macario (88).

As reported earlier, Aguon was heading into the second round of the golfer of the year competition with a one shot lead over Calma after finishing Saturday’s play with a net score of 67. Calma finished with a 68, Bautista 69, and Father Manny had a score of 70.

With the results of the second round, Bautista and Calma wound up finishing in a tie as both had took 135 strokes after two rounds.

Right behind the two was Aguon, who finished with 136. Retardo and Father Manny were in the hunt and finished right behind Aguon with a two-day score of 142, while Cataluna shot a 146.

Others include Mendoza (149), Palacios (152), Abalos (154), Battallones (156), Sen. Reyes (157), de Torres (160), Dels Cruz (162), Bostre (162), and Ferraz (165).

Bautista and Calma will battle for supremacy in a four-hole playoff on Feb. 19. The two will compete in two par-4 holes, one par-5, and one par-3 with the lowest score determining the champion, who will receive $500. Also, two holes will be from the front-nine while the other two will be played on the back-nine.

The playoff will coincide with the Fil-Taga February Ace of the Month Tournament. The association has yet to determine which course the tournament will be held on.