Tournament Results

Club Malarayat

May 25, 2001

Hosted by Batch 82

  Champions (L-R):  Thad Liamzon, Benny Fulgencio,  Charlie Gatmaitan, Lito Tapay, and Gie Ejercito.

     By Charlie Lasa '75                                                                                                      

The Upsilonians na Pumapalo went south to the Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas last May 25 for its first ever monthly golf tournament at this site.   The tournament was originally scheduled to be held together with the UP Open at Valley Golf, but for some reason the UP Open was postponed.  However Batch '82 came to the rescue on short notice and volunteered to sponsor the May tournament.   Batch '82 was ably represented by congenial brods Ernest Salazar and Mon Catane.

Thirty four brods showed up for the event, eager and roaring to whack that little white ball.  The opening of the new STAR Tollway from Calamba to Lipa City shortened the travel time to Lipa by at least one hour.   Brod Reggie Gonzales '87 picked me up at 5:30 a.m. in his brand new Honda Civic.  Reggie seized the opportunity to break in his car and play golf as
well.  At 7:00 a.m., we were already having breakfast at McDonald's in Lipa City.   A few minutes later, a mini reunion ensued with the arrival of my batchmates Doy Santos and John Gutierrez , who were both pumped up to avenge their loss last month.   Then arrived Charlie Gatmaitan '83,  Bong Uichanco '81, Rae Manaloto '81 and long-lost golfer Tong Puno '65.  Tong has been busy lately building up his advertising empire.

At the club, the most senior brod  was Alex Lee '46, who again had the longest drive (from Dagupan City).   Keeping him company were Ambassador Bert Pedrosa '50 (better known as the father of CNN anchor Veronica Pedrosa:-)  ,  Levi Trinidad '49 and Nando Piedad '52  (who was accompanied as usual by his driver Benny Fulgencio '65).   Other brods who showed up were Vic Sabalones '68, Lito Berina '69, Boy Verzosa '69, Willie Fernandez '69, Czar Guerzon '69, Bepo Alampay '70,  Gie Ejercito '72, Dom Langit '72, Lito Tapay '75,  Inky Reyes '78,  the Liamzon brothers (Thad '81, Mike '83, and Rod '93),  Nong Madrid '81, Herman Sanchez '85, Dennis Jordan '86, .Myki Cantero '88, and Gino Quintos '90.

The Malarayat Golf and Country Club is a jewel.  The locker rooms are posh, cool, clean and I think are the best I have been in so far.   There is a tall mature fully grown tree at the center of the lobby, extending to about 50 yards from the ground up to the ceiling,  and it seems that the clubhouse was designed around it.

I was informed that the 27-hole course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.    The fairways are gently undulating, with very few flat areas, and are lined with coconut trees.   Sand traps abound, waiting to torture those whose games are below par. The greens are tricky and very fast, and put to the test one's putting prowess.   Hole No. 7 of the Mt. Lubo front 9 course was chosen as one of the 100 Most Beautiful Holes in the World by Golf Digest .

Bragging rights for the day went to the amiable USPAA treasurer Charlie Gatmaitan '83, who shot a net 72 (gross 89, hcp 17) to wind up as the Over-All Champion.  

Other winners were:

Founders Division (Hcp 0 - 16) - Lito Tapay '75 (gross 83, hcp 10, net 73).  Lito also shot the lowest gross for the day.  We expected nothing less because Lito lives in Lipa and plays golf daily at Malarayat.  The last tidbit I gathered from the club personnel who all know Lito.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Over-all Champion Charlie getting ready to swing.  At Background is Mount Malarayat.

Chairman's Division (Hcp 17-23)  -  Gie Ejercito '72 (gross 94, hcp 20!!!!, net 74).  Calling the attention of Pumapalo Chairman Mike Liamzon '83... Gie has a handicap of 14 at Capitol Golf Club, he, he...bistado ka...

President's Division (Hcp 24-29) - Benny Fulgencio '65 (gross 98, hcp 25???, net 73).  Benny, ang tagal mo na sa Class C...hindi ka pa nahihiya?, hehe

Diamond Division (Hcp 30 and up) - Thad Liamzon '81 (gross 107, hcp 30, net 77).   Thad, isa ka pa!  Ang tagal mo nang hindi umaasenso from Class D, he, he!


Special Awards went to the following brods:
Nearest the Hole - Thad Liamzon '81, whose ball landed 1 pin away from the cup.  He putted for birdie and scored a bogey, hehe. Most Exercised Brod - tournament co-sponsor Mon Catane '82, who shot 146!   Okay lang brod....mag-recite ka na lang muna ng IF...  "If you can keep your head..."

The most awaited event of the day was of course... the RAFFLE!  The Class A players in this event were the following:
Vic Sabalones - golf bag
Charlie Lasa - Hamilton BlenderMaster
Mon Catane - Coffee Maker  (brod, akala ko sponsor ka?  Usually,nag-wa-waive ng prizes ang mga sponsor! Dapat tularan mo ang iyong kabatch na si Ernest Salazar '82, who graciously waived his prize, he, he.  Sana hindi ka balat-sibuyas, brod :-)
Mikey Cantero - Toaster
Herman Sanchez - Electric Fan
Rod Liamzon - Electric Fan
Mike Liamzon - 14" Color TV

The last 3 winners were constantly heckled by Tong Puno '65, who tickled the brods with his irreverent comments about the raffle becoming a family affair.  Herman is a cousin of Rod and Mike Liamzon.  Mukha daw nilutong Macao, sabi ni Tong!

Final Results:

                                      Gross      HDCP     Net