JEDDAH, 5 March 2005 — Noel Ariola Alipoyo delivered on a promise to win his first tournament winning the overall title in the Minister Dumia Farewell Golf Tournament at the short but tricky The Palms Golf Club course in Riyadh recently.
Ten months after taking up golf Alipoyo scored his breakthrough victory that he had been telling friends would come sooner than later.
True enough, a brilliant nine-under par net score of 57 gave the jolly Alipoyo the biggest prize in the event organized in honor of Minister Counsellor Mariano Dumia of the Philippine Embassy by the Filipino Golf Association (FGA).
On a course he plays almost daily the 18-handicapper Alipoyo hit three birdies in nines of 33-32.
Danny Naval, with an 8-handicap, captured the Class A (handicap 0-9) crown when he put together a net 55, one under at the par-56 layout. Angel Rodriguez signed for an identical 55 but had to settle for runner-up after the countback. Naval played off 8-handicap and Rodriguez 10-handicap and had gross scores of 63 (31-32) and 65 (34-31) respectively.
Lefty Ben Bollozos finished at two-under 54 for the Class B (11-18) title. He assembled a gross 69 (37-32). One stroke back at 55 for the runner-up spot was the honoree himself who made a gross 66 (33-33). Bollozos carried a 15-handicap and Dumia 11.
The ladies division title went to Vicky Minas who returned a 58, well in front of runner-up Edna Infante who compiled 74.
Infante also won the nearest to pin award as did Danny Naval.
The tournament was the second of the 2005 FGA season. Two weeks before the Battle of Champions and New Year Tournament two-in-one event was organized at the Riyadh Golf Club course.
Dumia, who ended his tour of duty last Feb. 28, emerged the Battle of Champions winner while Yassin Palileo ruled the New Year tourney. Dumia checked in at one-under 72 and Palileo, a beginner who hits the ball a long way, at two-under 71.
The FGA’s season-opening tournament drew 58 members. The new set of FGA officers led by president Joey Garcia were also inducted.
