Wow, at thirty-three degrees Celsius last Sunday at Century Pines golf course, twenty-two players braved the soaring heat and played. It was so humid sticky that reminded most of us the good ol’ Philippine hot sunny days. The last time SGC played this golf course, it was the very first game of the season. With players still feeling rusty then from winter hibernation, only one member posted a net round in the high 60s – Jojo Dizon. Not this time of year though. Century Pines golf course was a little receptive indicated by eight players scoring in the high net 60s. Mind you, players were kinda looking sharp and showing tip top form with two games to go.

Another player was showing continuation of a strong start. For the last three weeks before a week ago, it was Ron Wilson winning convincingly three in a row. This time Bingoy Peña came to life and aiming for his third in a row for the day’s prize. Bingoy was saying that if you could overcome the mental challenge it would make the physical much easier. Practicing more often helped a lot too. By signing a net round of 66, he won the Nassau total, tying three others for the back nine as well as winning the one of the two closest to the pin contests. When you were hot, you were hot.

Other Nassau winners: Ed Ilao and Seho Oh grudgingly shared the front nine while reluctantly Joey Cruz, Lina Mayo & Jess Velarde tied Bingoy P. for the back nine.

 

 

 

 

 

Worth mentioning: A heluva round for these members carding a net round in the high 60s – Joey Cruz, Pat Deoca, Seho Oh, Rey Plaza, Ron Protacio, Julio Rodriguez, & Jess Velarde.

 

 

 

 

 

Closest to the pin: Bingoy P. took the fifth hole while Rey Plaza coming back from a two-week vacation got the 14th hole.

Triple threat: I had never seen a guy with so much gusto and driven to play solidly like Joey Cruz of late. With an amazing gross score of 78, Joey looked like pulling away from his nearest competitors for the three SGC majors – POY, SPOY & MIP. Could somebody stop this guy with two games remaining?

Food for thought: At one point in time your life needs to embark for a change, for the better of course. In behalf of SGC members, congratulations to Jimmy Manguerra and Lorraine Marimla for their new journey in life together in marriage.

Announcement: A reminder to members that this Sunday at Westview golf course is the start of Grand Finals contest. To inform those new members, the lowest aggregate net scores of the last two games of the season win this contest. Five lowest net scores win a prize.

Three games to go and shortly we will be on our way to our own separate ways. Happy and sad, are you not?

Good weather temps at high twenty-seven degrees Celsius at Maples of Ballantrae Golf and Country Club last Sunday. We learned that this golf course got new ownership. At the end of this year, affiliation to Royal Woodbine golf course would be no longer. Twenty-four players showed up with two withdrawals before the round started and another two in the middle of the round. A number of players were gunning for Ron Wilson to win again for his fourth in a row. But unfortunately, like what the saying “Second verse, same as the first” opportune did not happen in so many ways. Anyway, for what I perceived from my last two outing with the same members playing in the same group, I had notice something worthwhile mentioning. I was playing in the same foursome with Joey Cruz, Ed Ilao, and Bong Munson for two consecutive rounds of golf for reasons that all four of us were likely running for the SPOY awards ……….. and so, I thought in my case. It was customary to SGC to group contenders at season end which was a noteworthy thing to do. I could see in Joey’s & Bong’s eyes before hand the excitement being built up within themselves and seemed driven to compete. Competed they did, played very well indeed – both carding net 67 although came up short of winning the day’s prize. But it was how these two members carried themselves playing this game that we loved that caught my attention. Both displayed maturity and finesse while complementing each other every time someone made a great shot. I was in awe and enjoying this display that these two members had shown. And yes, they both implied golf rules to errant shots with such a degree of tranquility accepted by each one with ease. Much appreciated the atmosphere that SGC’s prez had given away by leading a very good example how to play this game with reverence. I could assure you that these two were not the only ones who showed this kind of gamesmanship within the membership. Ed Ilao who did not perform that badly either was keeping the group feeling relaxed with his witty funny quips. Wondered why I picked these two members? For all I knew, I could only write what I observed and heard. If I learned niceties happening from other members during a round of golf, either by word of mouth or another, I’d be glad to post them.

 

 

 

 

 

Well something strange happened at the golf course last Sunday. One member who was on his way to buy milk stopped over and had a peek at the golf course. He was enthralled by the sight of the green and fairway grass so he decided to play a round of golf instead. Bingoy Peña, with his exorbitant taste of approaching a round of golf, did win the day’s prize by signing his card with a total net of 64. With this net total, Bingoy P. won the Nassau total net as well as the back nine. He then achieved his first win of the season and got ribbed by some of the members for that. There was always the first time, so they said. Well done.

Julio Rodriguez who rarely missed a beat by winning something every week seized the Nassau front. Mike Montilla and Mar DeVeyra were the other players posting a net round of 68 & 69 respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

Closest to the pin: You just cannot disregard the presence of SGC’s only female golfer. Lina Mayo from time to time would show up and play. And played she did. None of the boys beat her shot at the sixth hole. Bert C. won the 14th.

Announcement: An annual SGC meeting is forthcoming soon sometime right after the awards night. There will be a lot of discussions regarding issues for next year. Your attendance is quite important as there are issues that will be discussed and voted on. SGC is still pondering what restaurant to hold this meeting. Early items considered to be discussed so far are: golf venues, red tees for men, $100 deposit, election of officers, golf rules, membership, and other issues. You are encouraged to voice out your opinions and other issues that may concern play for next year. Lamenting a decision fashioned by others for you by not attending is not apprehensible. Stand up and be counted. If I may add, prospected new members are invited to attend as kibitzers only and regrettably not allowed to vote. Deplorably, SGC is hinting that it may lose a member or two next year but that’s the way it goes. You lose some, you gain some. Fore!!

Twenty degrees Celsius at SGC’s twenty-first game last Sunday at Kedron Dells golf course. This golf course was quite a distance most especially from those who lived in the west end. It was so far away from Mississauga residents that they had to use the ‘rest area’ along the highway for a long drive – just kidding. Surprisingly enough, only eighteen players showed up.

On a serious note, it was never done before when a certain member won two tournaments in a row, let alone three in a row. Never seen it before during my years with SGC. Not anymore. Ron Wilson did just that – winning his third in a row. By outscoring the field with a net score of 70, Ron seized the day prize, Nassau total net score and the back nine………again. Could be four in a row in the offing? Huge, huge possibility.

To complete the Nassau corner winners, Joey Cruz and Jojo Dizon was spared by the dominating Ron by letting those two win the front nine.

Closest to the pin contest: Bert C. guided a lucky 7-wood shot ten yards short of the green that crawled six feet to the eight pin. Jimmy Manguerra had the best shot at the 18th pin that was tucked difficultly away behind the right bunker sloping to the right side of the green.

These remaining games are one important circumstance to amass points to get higher up in the standings, in addition to getting accolades from winning something. Time is running out and with only four games unaccounted for, scoring low than anybody else is the most sought attainable goal for everyone vying for this year’s awards. You should ask yourself, why can’t it be me? And why not?

Update for the major awards:

MIP Leaders:
1. Joey Cruz
2. Bert Cerrudo            0.0066
3. Bong Munson          0.0103
4. Ed Ilao                     0.0116
5. Ron Wilson              0.0253
6. Jimmy Manguerra    0.0433

SPOY Leaders:

                                       13 games         Value to replace next game

1. Bert Cerrudo               928                   78
1. Joey Cruz                    928                   77
3. Bong Munson              933                   76
4. Ed Ilao                         940                   77
5. Rey Plaza                    958                   79               
6. Bing Peña                    968                   80

POY Leaders:
                                       15 Games          Value to replace next game

1. Joey Cruz                   1082                   77
2. Bert Cerrudo               1087                  81
3, Bong Munson             1090                  79
4. Jimmy Manguerra      1091                   80
5. Ed Ilao                       1094                   77
6. Julio Rodriguez          1112                   83

Before anything else for whatever reasons, SGC wishes to see more than the dissipating attendance for Manny Chea and Manny Marquez. SGC also gladly welcomes our prospected newcomers – Charlie Borromeo & Louie Romero. Hopefully they are enjoying the company so far.

Days were getting shorter. Temps were getting lower. Was it a sign of dwindling summer coming to an end? You bet. Thank goodness, no more 2:00 o’clock PM start in our schedule. At Westview golf course last Sunday with twenty-four players including three guests, it was a cool twenty-three degrees Celsius and was a bit pitchy dark when the last two groups were finishing their closing holes. With only one series to go, this was the conclusion of Month 4 and Super Series 4 contests. Times flew when you were having fun.

Prizes were up for the taking as it was the end of the month as mentioned above. Yes, you could blink now – in horse racing lingo winning in a spectacular fashion they said, “It is in the bag. Better go down and collect”. It was truly amazing how Ron Wilson made good of winning two weeks in a row. If your memory was still good, a week ago he posted a front nine net score of 28. Not this week though. He did one stroke better by carding a net score of 27. How about them apples? By winning the far-fetched Nassau front nine, he uncontestably did win the Nassau total net score by outdoing his last week’s score net score of 64 by two strokes with net 62. Ron convincingly captured day’s prize, Super Series 4, and Month 4 contests. In all likelihood if this trend continued, Ron could dominate all the way down to the last five games remaining. Power to the man!

Joey Cruz was the other Nassau back nine winner with a net of 34 narrowly beating Ron W. by a stroke thus preventing Ron a Nassau sweep.

Closest to the pin: Rey Plaza won the irritating green at Middle 7 while Julio Rodriguez shot the closest on Lakeland 4th hole.

End of month results: Month 4 considered as the one testing your good scoring consistency for a five-game spurt, was won by who else but Ron Wilson. Bong Munson narrowly beat for second place Rey Macapagal who placed third a stroke behind. Super Series 4 – the one contest not designed for weak hearts, was won by Ron Wilson. Was his name mentioned enough already or what? As Tiger Woods used to say, “Winning takes care of everything.” Indeed. Joey Cruz grabbed second while there was a three-way tie for third – Paolo Ballares, Ed Ilao, & Rey Macapagal.

Worth mentioning: With all the hoopla happening due to end of month contests, nobody fired a bonus shot like what Mike Montilla did the last time we played here at Westview in August. Mike silently eagled Lakeland’s fifth par 5 hole.

Hint: Sometime later this month, SGC plays Westview golf course once more. SGC trying hard to bring its niceties to this golf course management every time we play. In my own opinion, we are just about getting treated way below the normalcy we should be getting. The last time we played this venue last month, they mishandled the availability of power carts together with steadfast like cement fairways. Last Sunday, there were missing blue tee boxes that created chaos with our members. When the fourth foursome came at the first tee, only then when they realized to put back the blue tees at proper places after SGC made constant prodding about the missing tee boxes. By the way, we did not get any notification about the aerated greens, did we? Are we getting taken for granted or they do not want our business? Let’s hear it from you.