Here are the results from the last round of SGC’s golf summer season’s held at Lionhead Masters golf course last Sunday:

PLAYER of the YEAR (POY): In hopes of producing drama down the closing stretch, yes it came to that thrilling conclusion to no one’s surprise. Jimmy Manguerra, closing hard with a sparkling one over par gross score of 73, he separated himself from the field. How extraordinary these numbers were, he finished the wet day posting an impressive romp of winning the POY title, sharing the day prize & the Nassau total net, GRAND FINALS contest and the SUPER SERIES 5 first prize. The POY victory also propelled his second POY crown in twelve years since 2006. Second one was a charm, wasn’t it? A fiery JC Montilla when asked how he lost the tight POY race down to the last round, “I did not lose it, Jimmy won it for himself”. This was a simple but dignified display of appreciation and sportsmanship of a fellow competitor. It was no surprise that Jimmy took the liking of capturing the best scoring gross player of the season. Let me see, he won this title for the ninth time in twelve long years. Well done indeed.

 

SENIOR PLAYER of THE YEAR (SPOY): Joey Cruz refuses to rest on last year’s laurels. Mind you, he won all three major awards last year – POY, SPOY & MIP. He had no inclination he was finished making that brilliant run as there was no contest in capturing his second SPOY title in a row.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (MIP): One senior member had a fitting send-off that fitted the bill for a player who would come up short of expectations for the past long years. Fred Halili punched his ticket to seizing the MIP award with an astonishing finish leaving even the very best of them in his wake. Got ya all. Right Fred?

For SGC’s complete winner standing list, please check ‘Year to Date Results’ on our website.

It was a cooler Sunday afternoon at Kingsforest golf course. At only seventeen degrees Celsius, there were twenty-eight players uncomfortably playing in a dark cloudy day threatened with rain that did not come after all. It was a first start of two games for the Grand Finals contest. Sign in a good round and you’d be in a very good position to capture this event culminating next week. This golf course was a tough one. SGC played this venue three times this season and nobody, I meant nobody signed a net scorecard in the 60s.

Where have all the good times gone? Finally, the time has come for this cunning veteran whose endless pursuit of the good old days where he effortlessly showed everybody who was the boss on the golf course with his meticulous routine, brashness and competitiveness. He used to have the last laugh upon every completion of a round. Exe Navarette after posting the lowest net of 71 last Sunday proved that acquiring a new set of golf clubs and practicing hard enough brought back those glory days. With this unequalled performance, he won the day prize adding the Nassau back nine and total net corners as well. He also made himself a strong contender for the Grand Finals for next week’s last game of the season.

Two members – Erland Ibañez and Ed Ilao both shot an extra ordinary net of 33 thus sharing the Nassau front nine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closest to the pin contest: Bingoy Peña had a 15-footer shot on the long par 3 hole 5 that nobody else could beat. Another long par 3 hole 17 this time with a 5-iron used by Jun Paculaba who got it close to about four feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super Series 5 this Sunday. There are 21 entrants so far. This is your last chance to join. If you want to check the Grand Finals standings from the first of two games, please go to Round 24 scores.

MAJOR AWARDS UPDATES:

MIP Contest: Two weeks ago, this writer posted that the leader of this contest had an unsurmountable lead and proclaimed him as a sure winner. Unpredictably, there was a change of hands after last Sunday though. I learned my lesson to never predict a result until it is finally over. I was wrong. Very wrong. The ever devil may care Fred Halili who fired way below his handicap got past JC Montilla for the lead this time. Fred’s slim lead of 0.0084 makes this contest tight and down to the wire. Never count out Manny Marquez who is lagging close behind third place and Mike Montilla in fourth. These couple are much capable of doing the unexpected. Jimmy Manguerra still sitting precariously in fifth place.

SPOY: Joey Cruz with his record-breaking net 62 two weeks ago at Century Pines golf course still leads this contest over Bert Cerrudo by a trimmed down two strokes from four. Seho Oh trailing the leader by six strokes is in third place. There is a battle for fourth place between four players – Bingoy Peña, Mar DeVeyra, Exe Navarette, & Jun Paculaba. They are only separated by five mere strokes. Even Sennix Bontigao or Rey Plaza have a chance to catch up with them if epic failure happens to them.

POY: These two players – JC Montilla & Jimmy Manguerra are having the best season so far. Why? I’ve never seen a tight and impressive performance between two people. This is a display of high caliber repetitive routine for nine weeks ago coming down to who’s going to blink first. A mere two strokes separating these two. Mike Montilla who slowed down a bit is in third place nine points behind the leader while Joey Cruz and Bert Cerrudo are fighting for fourth & fifth place respectively with only a point difference between them followed closely by Jojo Dizon in sixth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SGC appreciates the display of sportsmanship and patience by all members and thanking you all for the support. Good luck to everyone this Sunday.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

With the final game of the season this Sunday, expect SGC to again group together the contenders for POY & SPOY. This will also include the aspirants from the first game of the GRAND FINALS (with respect to what tee box they tee off from) last Sunday.

SGC also recommends to everybody to attend the annual meeting to be held right after the last game at Bingoy’s place. We will discuss whatever topics there are for next year – golf venues, golf rules, membership, and officers to name a few. Dinner is in the offing and soft drinks but not alcoholic beverages. It is BYOB and you must drink responsibly. If you have an inkling to render a song or two, Karaoke happens after the meeting. This is not the time to be bashful, just enjoy the night and ridicule ourselves just for the fun of it.

Another SGC recommendation is for every member to attend the awards night on Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 6 PM sharp. Parking is free. Stay late and enjoy dancing the night away.

Just in case you were not out of town, there was no way of missing this eventful event that took place somewhere in Atlanta, Georgia for golf fanatics. Tiger Woods won his first match in 5 years, an unbelievable comeback going down in golf lore. His last win was at WGC golf tournament in 2013.

How did he do it? Tiger’s comeback

Here’s a quote from NBC:

NBC Sports Group’s final round coverage of the TOUR Championship on Sunday (3:00-6:15 p.m. ET) earned a 5.21 Overnight rating, as Tiger Woods claimed his 80th career victory, and his first in five years. The telecast is up 206% vs. 2017 (1.70).  It also becomes the highest-rated telecast in the history of the FedExCup Playoffs (2007-’18) and the highest-rated PGA TOUR telecast in 2018 (excluding majors). Coverage peaked from 5:30-6p (7.19) as Woods finished his round and as Justin Rose was being crowned the FedExCup champion, only trailing the peaks for The Masters (11.03) and PGA Championship (8.28) in 2018. The extended coverage window (1:30-6:15 p.m. ET) posted at 4.35 Overnight rating, which is the highest-rated TOUR Championship telecast on record (2000-’18).

How much did Tiger earn last Sunday, did you ask?

Tour Championship win: $1.620 million; FedEx Cup Bonus: $3 million for second place.

Going back to SGC’s twenty-third game last Sunday at Century Pines golf course, it was a cool eighteen degrees Celsius with a bit of gushing easterly wind in the Hamilton peninsula. Twenty-three players showed up and played with contenders battling it out for major accolades before closing out the season with only two more games to go. For those who were trying to catch up, time was running out but never forget the remaining two games. It is the Grand Finals where top five players with two lowest aggregate net scores win a prize.

Let us get to Sunday’s scramble.

He’s baaaaaaaaack. Joey Cruz let loose last Sunday with a net score of 62. Joey’s performance rewarded himself of a complete sweep – all Nassau corners & day prize. He also broke the lowest net record of the season by a stroke held previously by Mar DeVeyra & Bong Munson with 63. The catch was, this was his only win so far and what a win this was. More to come you’d think? Surely think so.

Two other members signed low net scores in the 60s – the up & coming Fred Halili with net 66 and one of our promising newcomers, Louie Romero with 68. Very nice indeed.

It is getting tight to all three major races as well as the last monthly race.

Let’s start with Month 5 contest: Ray Macapagal still leads by one over the surprising Fred Halili followed by ‘Hey, I am pain free’ Jun Paculaba, seven behind RayMac.

POY: JC Montilla still leads Jimmy Manguerra by a meager three strokes. It was only a stroke a week ago. This race used to be a race between JC & Jimmy but someone is making this interesting. Mike Montilla made it known that this race was not over yet and made these two looking over their shoulders. With only nine behind the leader and six from second place, Mike cut down the lead to nine from fifteen. This one turns out to be a nerve breaking contest. Who will prevail with two more games unaccounted for?

SPOY: With a net of 62, Joey Cruz jumped four people from fifth place twelve strokes behind to take over the lead from the idle Bert Cerrudo who now trails Joey by four strokes. Seho Oh drops down to third nine strokes off. Bingoy Peña grabs fourth place followed by Mar DeVeyra in fifth thirteen and fourteenth behind the leader respectively.

MIP: Sorry folks, but I think this race is over because of the huge gap created by the leader. This one may I say, is in the bag for JC Montilla. Fred Halili switches places with Manny Marquez, second and third respectively. Mike Montilla holds on to fourth while Jimmy Manguerra regains fifth place.

It was soaring hot together with lingering, sticky humidity at twenty-six degrees Celsius at Lakeridge Links golf course at last Sunday’s round of golf. Never bothered the twenty-four players enjoying the fourth last game of the season. Boy, how time flies when you are having fun. Anyway, this golf course seemed to spook a lot of players because of its tough layout, nevertheless a beautiful design. As a matter of fact, there was a split rational from the members about playing this golf course for next season. Understandably those players living in the west side of TO were acting negatively including this course in our schedule for next year because of its not so near location aside from being a little pricey with the green fee.

Another high scoring affair happened just like the round of golf a week ago. Only one player submitted a net score in the 60s while a bunch of five people shared second place with a distant net score of 74. Fred Halili just joined the list of multiple winners by signing a net scorecard of 69 grabbing the day prize for his second win of the season. The last time SGC played this golf course sometime in May, Fred placed second fiddle to Ed Ilao with a net score of 72. He decided at this time he was not playing second to none. Is Fred giving us a hint to play this golf course maybe five times next year?

Nassau corner winners: An inspired POY contender Jimmy Manguerra owned the back nine with an even gross score of 36 while sharing the total net score of 74 with two others – Bert Cerrudo & Jun Paculaba.

Jess Velarde grabbed the sole possession of the Nassau front nine with a net score of 35. We’ve been hearing a lot of this player a lot lately. Good showing Jess.

Closer to the pin contest: An almost impossible pin location that was placed closer to the edge and the water proved no worry for Fred Halili with a nice shot on the seventh par 3 hole. Another in play water hazard hole that was poorly judged by most players, claimed a lot of golf balls but not Jess Velarde’s at seventeenth hole. Twice in a row now for Jess.

ANNOUNCEMENT: You are invited to Bingoy Peña’s place after our last round of golf at Lionhead golf course on October 7, 2018. A little dining is in the offing but BYOB. This gathering will also serve as SGC’s annual meeting to discuss golf related issues such as golf venues and new golf rules for next year, officers, new game format, membership, etc. Your presence and opinion matter.

SGC’s banquet awards night is on a Saturday, October 13, 2018. Please confirm your attendance to Rey Plaza or Joey Cruz if you have not done so yet. We would like a chance to see you out of your regular golf attire and in a semi formal attire for a change.

 

 

Bingoy Pena’s place

With dark clouds looming around the horizon, twenty-six players were so mindful of the weather because of SGC’s late tee time at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon at Royal Ontario golf course. Darkness was the main issue here as the day was getting shorter surprisingly early currently. There was a notion of not finishing a round, but fortunately the seventh and the last group was concluding the round at the eighteenth hole while the sun was settling down at quarter to eight in the evening.

High winds and a cool seventeen degrees Celsius created a little havoc to a certain player who netted a remarkable net of 64. Ray Macapagal who enjoyed his brief stay in the Philippines earlier in the year and spent his winter hibernation down south of the border in Florida, captured the day prize in his only sixth game of the summer. With his splendid performance, Ray also seized Nassau corners back nine and the total net. Mind you, he was the only one who signed a net score card in the 60s. What was this thing with people coming back from all that holidays, going to form and restfully reeling in few prizes here & there?

Another player with a habit of winning every time he came back from a time off, Julio Rodriguez signing a gross score of 40, deservingly grabbed the Nassau front nine.

In the accuracy shot of the day department, Jess Velarde with a pitching wedge punch shot at the 116 yards par 3 eight hole got it so close that nobody could beat since starting earlier from the first foursome. Jojo Dizon impressive with a nice precise shot at the eleventh hole, won two of these in his last three starts. Not bad, eh?

 

Major Updates:

POY: There is a new sheriff in town. JC Montilla with a net of 70 took over the lead over rival Jimmy Manguerra’s net 75. JC now leads Jimmy by meager three strokes. These two are playing musical chairs since the fifteenth game. No one else is seriously close enough to challenge these two men with only four games to go.

MIP: JC Montilla could be possibly having this year as his year. Being a multiple winner so far this year, he is almost going away with this award. But wait. At his last start before last Sunday, Manny Marquez jumps from third to second replacing Mike Montilla who drops down to fourth place behind the ever-nonchalant Fred Halili. If I were JC, I’d be cognisant of Manny who is nipping at JC’s heels and is fast closing in with four games remaining. Who knows?

SPOY: Compared to other majors, this one is the tightest contest of them all. Why? Five players are within eight strokes of stealing the crown for himself. Bert Cerrudo still leads Seho Oh by a whisker of a stroke followed by Bingoy Peña six stroke behind the leader in third place, Mar DeVeyra in fourth place seven behind and Joey Cruz bringing up the rear in fifth tailing eight strokes. This is what competition is all about. Nice going seniors.

Not so bad weather wise at twenty-six degrees Celsius at KIngsforest golf course last Sunday. This was the twentieth game of the season and the best opportune time to get it going as it was the end of the month. Twenty-five players sweated it out trying to win few prizes available.

Since the writer of this blog is SGC member and plays regularly as well, what happens when he wins a round of golf? How does the writer give accolades to himself? Simple, say less and narrate the point of view story in the third person. This blog is obligated to announce and post the round of golf results whatever and whomever they might be. Clear as mud, don’t you think? Bert Cerrudo with his perfect round attendance for the summer in his twentieth game just like seven others, won and shared the day prize. He seized the Nassau corners – back nine & total net of 70. He is the first player to win the day prize three times this season, and his second win of the Super Series event.

Surprisingly enough, last Sunday was the eight time the lowest score of the day was shared by two people. KIngsforest golf course, what a beauty to very few. A very high net score of 70 unexpectedly won it all. One of the two winners who tied the very same net score won it too the last time SGC played this golf course. While that winner is not known for his length off the tee, he was saying about this course, “At most times playing short and, my ball is in the fairway, seems better than long and under the trees.”

How about turning back the clock? Jun Paculaba in his heydays could no doubt be in the running of whatever contest there was, but health issues unfortunately hit everybody as we go to climb arguably senior stages of our lives. This time around, Jun timely entered Super Series 4 contest for the first time and shared first prize with someone else. He must had known something or felt something. Men do have men intuition like women, don’t they? Not only that, he too shared the day prize equalling the lowest net of the day firing another 70.

How about this sophomore member, Jess Velarde? This guy is  one of those who can hit a mile off the tee. He claimed the Nassau corner front nine with a net of 35. Jess could have won it all but apparently the handicapping system would not allow it. Darn the breaks.

Closest to the pin contest: Accuracy off the tee to one of those eighteen holes pays good dividends even if you are having a bad day. Rey Plaza connecting on the par 3 seventh hard location hole, stuck it close enough to win it. Rey’s second in three starts. The late stage ‘bring me back my stolen good swing’ cameo by Jun Paculaba earned him the winning shot at seventeenth hole.

Major leaders update:

POY leader: Jimmy Manguerra, leader for three weeks now.

MIP leader: JC Montilla, leader since the fifteenth game of the season.

SPOY leader: Bert Cerrudo, new leader.

 

Twenty-nine degrees Celsius last Sunday at Glen Cedars golf course greeted twenty-six players. It was a muggy day with dark clouds hoovering above our heads with a threat of rain that never materialized as the sun came out mid-afternoon . This day was a prelude for next week’s Super Series 4 contest and the culmination of the Month 4 race. Not to late to join the SS4 contest as according to Jojo Dizon three more players entered this contest to bring the total to twenty-one aspirants.

Sunday’s round conclusion: Erland Ibañez finished atop the golf world by signing in a net score of 65 to secure his second win of the season joining six others as multiple winners so far this year. His surprising performance propelled him of a sweep as far as the contests he entered that were in the offing that day. Erland earned himself the day prize, Nassau corners – front & back nines as well as the total net; the first player to accomplish this feat this season.

Closest to the pin contest: Sennix Bontigao got his mojo shot working at hole par 3 fifth hole to win it while Jojo Dizon birdied that ever so close shot at par 3 fifteenth hole from afar blue tees. Both players claimed the win in their last two starts.

 

 

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Just a reminder to all SGC members – SGC’s awards and semi-formal attire banquet night is to be held a week after the last game of the season on a Saturday at 6 PM sharp on October 13, 2018 at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, formerly Delta Hotel at the corner of Dixie Road and Matheson Boulevard, Mississauga. Parking around the vicinity is free. SGC recommends that members attend and enjoy this festivity most specially the four new members. Taste the warmest connection with the rest of the team. You can bring your spouse or a friend free of charge. You can also invite other individual(s) for a minimum fee to cover the cost. Dancing will commence right after dinner and the awarding of awards. SGC will be asking members to confirm their attendance three weeks prior to this affair.

How did you like that at twenty-six degrees Celsius playing at Royal Woodbine last Sunday? Almost perfect weather but the only hitched was SGC’s tee off time of two o’clock in the afternoon. Half an hour more after the last of seven groups finished the round, could had been dark. Hmm. Hate to say that “old man winter is coming”. Not for a while though with our eighteenth game of the season with seven more to go.

Results, results and more results. Bong Munson lit up the course with an onslaught of pars and few birdies to capture the day prize with a net score made in heaven of 63. This low net score matches the lowest net score provided by Mar DeVeyra at Carlise North/South golf course last July 15, 2018. Bong who is known with a history of being streaky undoubtedly won the Nassau back nine and total net. He said he is comfortably feeling good about his game right now.

Another Nassau winner who seized the front nine with a remarkable even gross par 36 was Joey Cruz. Never wake this guy up. We all know what he could do. Joey (64) & Bong (63) were the only two of four players who netted something in the 60s. The other two were Jojo Dizon (67) and Bert Cerrudo (69).

Month 4 contest: Bong Munson with an amazing net of 63 catapulted to first place with best three net scores followed by Joey Cruz, Bert Cerrudo, and Seho Oh twelve enormous points behind with two more games unaccounted for. You will hear more about Seho as we go on.

Major updates:

POY: Musical chairs is being played by these two players with regards to taking the lead week in and week out. Jimmy Manguerra with a pedestrian net of 71 over JC Montilla’s 81 regained the lead on week eighteen with margin of big nine points. Seho Oh from fifth place joined Jojo Dizon in third place fourteen points behind the leader replacing Mar DeVeyra a mere point behind fourth place. The idle Mike Montilla dropped down from third place to seventh place with Ross Bautista taking sixth. It’s getting tight folks.

MIP Contest:   JC Montilla still leads but his significant huge lead was trimmed down to 0.0338 from 0.0514 a week ago because of the surging Seho Oh who is now giving JC a run for his money. A surprising move was exhibited by Fred Halili who now grabbed third place followed by Jimmy Manguerra with Mike Montilla bringing up the rear for the top five prizes. A new player, Ross Bautista just came aboard after last Sunday’s round in eight place after Bingoy Peña and Jojo Dizon in sixth and seventh place respectively.

More aspiring MIP players: These players listed below with seven games left would qualify and would be in the running for this contest provided they completed the required fifteen games and shoot scores below their respective handicaps. Think they could do it? You bet.

Name                                 Result      Games played

Manny  Marquez              1.1051                 13 

Bong      Munson              1.0113                   12

Julio       Rodriguez           1.0258                   14

Ron        Wilson                1.0535                   14

Leader: JC Montilla         1.1538                    18

Of all the above, Manny Marquez looks promising. He would place third in this race had he completed fifteen games.

SPOY: As SPOY heats up, Mar DeVeyra who led a week ago by five points over Seho Oh relinquished the lead to Seho. Seho now leads Mar by four points. This might be a repeat of last year like Joey Cruz winning all three majors for the ever dangerously consistent Seho Oh as he is contending in all three majors. Joey Cruz fueled by an astounding net 64 helped himself jumped from sixth place to third twelve points behind the leader. Bert Cerrudo sat from dead last smiling in fourth place two points behind third. Last place prize in fifth is Rey Plaza.

Closest to the pin contest: Jojo Dizon coming back from a vacay in Mehico, boasting he played a round of golf there got it so close on par 3 fourth hole. Rey Plaza fired an unbeatable shot at the long fourteenth hole.

Were you able to have a glimpse at the closing PGA championship last Sunday? This was the last major event in the golfing world. Just in case you were out of town or somewhere where there was no access to social media, the muscle-bound Brooks Koepka won his second major in a year, his third in his career keeping the first prize $1.98 million money and the Wanamaker trophy. Tiger Woods in his golf comeback, shot the best round of his career in a major tournament with a 64, fell short but still received $1,188,000 for his second-place finish. The very last place golfer received $18,600 just for showing up and finishing the four-day round. Not bad, eh?

At SGC’s round at last Sunday at Lionhead Masters, we were feeling full of reluctance playing this venue. Surprisingly, we started our round of golf without last minute changes coming from the golf course management whatsoever as compared to two previous starts. So far so good. At twenty-eight degrees Celsius, twenty-seven players came to play. This was SGC’s seventeenth game of the season and winding down with only eight games to go. At this time of the year, it reminded me of the coming opening of CNE midway rides along Lakeshore Boulevard at CNE grounds and its closing sometime in September; meaning back to school already and the end of summer. Phew, forget about that thought and let me take you to the game results that happened last Sunday anyway.

With another scenario where again two people winning & sharing the day prize, this was the sixth time so far it had occurred this season. To SGC’s long hitting newcomers – Bong Blanco, Mike Dang & Steve Kim, Steve Kim came out sooner than expected to win out of this bunch. Him and JC Montilla both signed a scorecard of net 67. More on JC later. Steve not surprisingly with the length off the tee, in his only fourth game of the season, got the job done. JC Montilla with his second win, just joined the other six members in the prestigious multiple winners club. JC also seized the Nassau front nine as well as the total net. We are seeing a lot of good play from this member lately. He is also in the running for MIP and POY awards.

Only three players posted net score in the 60s. Two of them were mentioned above already and the other member who joined them was Ross Bautista. Ross was not too far from winning the day prize either with a net score of 69.

Another member Julio Rodriguez coming from a lay off a week ago warranted a good net score of 32, winning solely the Nassau back nine. Julio might be starting a good run of scoring low to move up in the standings just like he did late last year. Maybe we should try a week off or two then come back and win something. Not for everyone, you’d think?

Closest to the pin contest: Jimmy Manguerra fired the best shot than anybody else on the par 3 eight, while Ed Ilao at the eleventh hole beat a previous shot by the continual “brides’ maid” Joey Cruz at this particular contest. No offense intended, mind you.

Announcement: There was a sudden change as far as the net adjustment was concerned for those members who hit from the white tees & red tees from last Sunday’s round of golf. Lionhead Masters posted new course ratings for all tee boxes involved. According to Joey Cruz since we used the blue tee as reference point, the difference between blue tee & white tee became net adjustment for white tee as one from three as noted before. For red tee, the net adjustment decreased from five to four.