JEDDAH, 29 June 2005 — Taha Guinomla and Romy Guevarra won the top prizes in the 107th Philippine Independence Cup Golf Tournament organized last Friday by the Filipino Golfers of Jeddah at the Desert Lakes Golf Club course here.
Guinomla, Administrative Officer of Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, ruled the Stableford Points competition via the countback after he and Willie Querida were tied on 32 points at the end of the 18-hole contest.
A beautiful chip-in birdie on the 16th hole won the day for Guinomla, dissolving further ties on the first two countback holes beginning on 18th.
Guevarra, Merchandising Supervisor at Arabian Foods Supply who played off a 24 handicap, put together an even par 72 to capture low net honors. The awards ceremony followed the sumptuous lunch at the clubhouse. FGJ President Rey Ibe presented the prizes.
For their victories, Guinomla and Guevarra each received a 14-inch Toshiba color television set donated by Installment 4 Kabayan of Jack, Ghaps and Jams. The first runner-up Querida took home Black & Decker Citrus Juicer donated by Nilo de Villa. Also claiming Black & Decker Juicer prizes in the Stableford that awards 1 point for bogey, 2 points for par and 3 for birdie were 2nd runner-up Ardel Saludares, 3rd runner-up Chito P. Manuel and 4th runner-up George Pacorsa.
Saludares and Manuel, playing in his debut tournament in Jeddah since being relocated from Riyadh late last year, both tallied 31 points although their order of finish was decided by countback. Pacorsa scored 30 points, with 5th runner-up Rey Muldong, 6th runner-up Sam Pugh and 7th runner-up Jun Lacsado signing for 28, 27, and 26 in that order. Muldong, Pugh and Lacsado each received a set of pens courtesy of Ibe.
Manuel, Arab News Sports Editor, also won the crystal trophy prize for nearest to pin on the difficult par-3 14th hole, while Pugh nabbed the award for longest drive on No. 18.
Donors galore in the fun-filled tournament that was held the last time by Pinoy golfers here in 2003 and won by King San Pedro. PNB-Jeddah, Pag-ibig-Jeddah, Sky Freight Forwarders, Qatar Airways, Delta Water, Arabian Foods Supply and Chocolate Corner rounded out the list of donors. The other FGJ officers are Vice President De Villa, Secretary Lacsado, Treasurer Saludares and Tournment Director Querida. The advisers are Guinomla and Muldong.
