EJ LEGARDA GRABS 5th POGI OPEN
WITH ONE-STROKE VICTORY AS RIVALS COLLAPSE
81 Enough to Bring Home Coveted Trophy
By: Joseph Vasquez
BATH, PA, Sept. 11, 2006 – 2005 POGI Open Champion Gary Mackay was right. EJ Legarda shouldn’t have bothered bringing POGI Open’s perpetual trophy to Southmoore Golf Course.
With a gross final score of 81, Legarda was able to fend off several pursuers making his first POGI major win the POGI Open.
Since Mackay could not defend his title since he is no longer eligible to compete in amateur tournaments after being promoted to PGA Pro status, Legarda brought the POGI Open trophy with him for the tournament’s eventual winner.
According to Mackay, he kidded with Legarda when he asked him to bring the trophy to Southmoore. “Just bring this trophy straight to your house since you’ll end up with it anyway,” said Mackay facetiously.
Although Legarda’s win did not come as a surprise to many, it did not come easy. He had many rivals from both class A and B closing in on his lead until his final hole (#8).
In his flight alone, which included U.S. Women’s Public Links candidate Maricel Manguinao, SWAG-ger and POGI Invitational Champion Lino Emnas, and former POGI Member and SWAG golf champion Oscar Briones, Legarda had to remain focused as every one in his group faltered late in the round.
Manguinao, who finished with an 83, was penalized two strokes for playing the wrong ball while Emnas, who was tied with Legarda entering the final hole, double bogeyed also for an 83. Briones, who needed a birdie to tie the lead on the final hole, missed the birdie to finish one stroke behind at 82.
The most (in)famous collapse of the tournament belonged to former POGI Member Dem Ilagan who entered his final two holes (#5 and #6) at six-over shooting for a solid 77. Instead, he finished with a triple bogey and quadruple bogey respectively for an 84.
Several other players chasing Legarda failed in the end due to one or two bad holes. Cary Africa finished with an 84 after succumbing to a couple of double bogeys in his round. Tournament favorite and POGI Players Champion Romy Francisco ended his chances when he triple bogeyed his 11 th hole (#1) and carded an 87. SWAG-ger and former POGI Member Peter Hollnsteiner, who brought his son, junior golfer Philip, finished with an 85
Class B players were also in the hunt at the POGI Open led by 2004 POGI Open runner-up Tim Caro, who seem to save his best rounds for the POGI Open. He finished one stroke behind and tied for runner-up. Bong Mapa, another stellar player from POGI’s Class B, finished only two strokes behind with an 83.
This summer has been very memorable for Legarda on and off the course. Besides winning the POGI Open, he had recently gotten married. Noticably missing at the awards ceremony was the champion. When asked why he had to leave immediately, Legarda sounded like an old “pro” husband.
“My wife has plans, I have to get home. We’re checking out SUVs this afternoon, maybe buying a Honda Pilot.”
What a way to end the summer.
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Following are the complete tournament results at the 5th POGI Open:
POGI Open Champion/Low Gross: EJ Legarda, 81
Class A
Champion: Peter Hollnsteiner, 73 (Net), 85 (Gross)
1st Runner-up: Oscar Briones net 74 gross 82
2nd Runner-up: Caloy Keyes net 74 gross 87
Class B
Champion: Tim Caro net 67 gross 82
1st Runner-up: Bong Mapa net 68 gross 83
2nd Runner-up: Tata Rubin net 70 gross 86
Class C
Champion: Pete Clemente net 72 gross 92
1st Runner-up: Cesar Zavalla net 73 gross 93
2nd Runner-up: Ron Galang net 74 gross 95
Guests* (System 36)
Champion: Tex Constantino net 71 gross 86
1st Runner-up: Nonoy Rocero net 73 gross 97
2nd Runner-up: Kenneth Joya net 76 gross 98
Longest Drive: EJ Legarda (#1), Janboy Vasquez (#15)
Closest to the Pin: Tata Rubin (#3), Caloy Keyes (#16)
Note: tie-breaker is back nine net score.
Hole Sponsors
Builders 2000, LLC (General Contractors)
Secaucus, New Jersey
Tel. 201.866.0002
Fax 201.866.1010
c/o Gerry Aguilera
La Salle Greenhills '78 (Art Alafriz)
c/o Tim Caro
Musto Khan (c/o Musto Khan)
Dave Fernandez, CPA (c/o Dave Fernandez)
LondonBridge, Inc. (c/o Keats London)
Raffle Prize Sponsors
Dennis De Leon
Janboy Vasquez
Raymond Vasquez
Keats London
Mario Balmater
POGI Open Task Force
Dennis "Phil Mickelson" De Leon - Tour Director
Janboy "Long John Daly" Vasquez - Rules Committee and Roving Reporter
Cary "Ernie Els of South Africa" Africa - Scoring
Keats "Ansel Adams" London - scoring(backup), photography,
sponsor/solicitation coordinator
Ron "Alan Greenspan" Galang & Musto "MatchMaker" Khan - registration
Mario "Engineer" Balmater & Ralph "Macho Man" Ferrer - trophies and raffle
prizes
Mike "Tyger Woods" Caringal - tournament boards
Alden "El Presidente Supremo" Nacionales - Over-all coordinator
*** Note: Nicknames courtesy of Keats London
Please visit: www.spygolf.blogspot.co
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