■ Harley F. Palangchao
Seasoned amateur golfer Luigi Paolo Wong wanted to share his international experience to budding Cordilleran golfers that’s why he assembled a team of up and coming players who competed in the championship division of the 2nd Cordillera Golfers Foundation, Inc. Golf Tournament on April 1 to 6.
Naming the team after the family’s restaurant House of Yogurt, Wong picked Rhanz Louie Balay-odao, Miguel So Hu, and Zyrah Floriann de Leon.
His team placed third behind powerhouse Eastridge and first runner-up JBA Construction which fielded top amateurs from the south who also saw action at Camp John Hay, Baguio Country Club, and Pinewoods Golf & Country Club.
Once a member of the national amateur golf team and a champion in the global stage, Wong carded 104 points and placed third in the individual regular 1.
Surprisingly, De Leon, the only female and youngest player in the championship division at age 14, helped Wong in collecting much needed points for team. She scored a total of 74 points and also outscored some of the best local tournament players.
Balay-odao and So Hu had 79 and 53 points, respectively.
“I wanted them to be exposed in tournaments with players coming from different parts of the country. Exposure in a game like this will help them gain confidence in future tournaments,” said Wong, who finished a college degree last year as a member of the Spartans Golf Team of San Jose State University in California.
Meanwhile, several Cordillera players were top scorers in their respective divisions with Jeremiah Guanso of SEJ Construction leading the pack with 84 points to win the individual regular 4 bracket. He also aced hole 18 of CJH and won P25,000 cash prize.
Noel Lamsis of Razcals Win also had 80 points to win the individual regular 3 from the roster of 61 players while Denver Codim-o of Lepanto Golf Club topped the friendship division with 74 points.
Leonard Sab-it of Viceroy Construction topped the individual regular five with 59 while Doming Paglinawan of Carl Fran Golf Guild topped the seniors B with 74 points.
