First time is sweetest
For 1st time, 26-year-veteran Tirol, first-timer Tan walk away with 18th President’s Cup overall title
PARTNERS Editho “Nonoy” Tirol and Tyrone Tan reigned in the 18th edition of the President's Cup, walking away with their first overall title in the tournament, which wrapped up yesterday at the Cebu Country Club (CCC) in Banilad, Cebu City.
Tirol and Tan accumulated a total net score of 120 in the two-day, 36-hole tournament. The tandem started with a net 58 in the best-ball format Day 1 and capped it off with net 62 in the alternate-shot format in the final round.
The duo both won their first overall title in the President's Cup. It was a sweet victory for 61-year-old Tirol, claiming the overall crown after joining in all 18 editions. His partner, 50-year-old Tan, has just started playing golf and became a member of CCC just this April.
“We were helping each other out in all two rounds. It was really teamwork for both of us. If I committed a mistake, he was there to cover me, and if he committed a mistake, I was there to cover him also,” said Tirol, who's a mainstay member of CCC's PAL senior team.
Tirol has played golf for 26 years and for him, the President's Cup overall title is one of the biggest team play events he has won.
The tandem of Tirol and Tan was tied with partners Herbert Ong and Peter Po Sr. after the first round. Tirol and Tan had a scare in the second round after a bad front nine which they hit two doublebogey and one bogey. It was in the back nine that they picked things up with two birdies.
“It was the back nine that saved us, we were pitching and putting very well. It was the birdie in hole No.16 that gave us the confidence, after that hole we finished the 17th and 18th with a par,” said Tirol.
Tirol, who won the Class C division five years ago, said that they never thought that they will be walking away with the overall title this year.
“Golf is really an unpredictable game and you will never know. Good thing the weather was good otherwise maybe we never able to finish the course,” he said.
On the other hand, partners Ong and Po snagged the C.J Martin Division title after scoring a total net of 122 in two rounds. The partners scored a net 58 on the first round and finished the tournament with a net 64.
Cebu City Councilor Raymond Garcia and partner Jiggy Akol nabbed first runner-up honors with 124, while Atty. Jovi Neri and partner Carlos Garcia took second runner-up with net 126.
In the W.C Palmer Division, Dr. Lorenzo Alaan and Lee Wun Sun won top honors with a net of 125. Wendel Yap and Joy Anthony Ong took first runner-up after scoring 126, while Jude Cimafranca and David Lu had 127 to settle for second runner-up.
In the Anthony Paul Division, duos Prudgie Gesta and Francis Monera won the title with a net of 130. Ramon Durano IV and Jose Abellana bagged first runner-up with 131 after winning via countback over partners Dr. Peter Mancao and Hector Almario.
The duo of Mancao and Almario took second runner-up plum with 131, beating Collin and Derek Go also via countback.
Meanwhile, in the Guest Division, Enrico Solon and Jun Zambo ruled with a net of 137. Andrew Parrott and Niel Howard salvaged first runnerup with a net 138, while Eduardo Yap and Gen. Ed Benigay took second runner-up with 139.