Layug triumphs in Laxa Maasalama-Vista Land Cup 2013

The wild days for Rene Layug on the golf course are, well, over as he continued to show vast improvement in his game when he posted victory during the Ador Laxa Maasalama and Vista Land Cup 2013 golf tournament last week.
The 62-year old Layug claimed Best Net honors — body pains, chopped handicap and all — to score the surprising win during the event at Dirab Golf & Country Club that coincided with the FGA election of new set of officers and bonding time for Filipino Golf Association members and their families the night before at Dirab Polo Club and Villas.
His handicap down to 23 from 26, Layug fired a solid net score of 68 from a gross of 91.
To complete his big day Layug also won the nearest to the pin award.
“They’re squeezing me already on my handicap. But that’s OK, I took it as a challenge and I delivered. I just played on despite my body aching,” Layug, a marketing manager at Amanco Co. for special vehicles conversion, said.
Not as surprising was the victory of FGA president-elect Resty S. Sibug, who was the Best Gross champion on 79 in a performance that further boosted his status as one of the FGA elite players.
Meantime, the torch is passed in the Class A (handicap 0-15) after David Lloyd Bantug, a 12-year old Grade 6 student as Elite International School, upstaged the veterans to win the division on 69 from a gross of 84 and 15 handicap. Edwin Añonuevo, with a 12 handicap, was first runner-up on 72 and Abner Macapagal second runner-up on 77 (91-14).
Dennis Catapang, and Al Gatbonton actually matched Layug’s 63 but had to settle for Class B (16-22) and Class C (23-28) titles respectively after the countback was applied to break the tie.
Catapang shot a gross 77 and played off 19 handicap. Benjie Santuyo, the fourth player on 68 with a 20 handicap, wound up first runner-up in Class B with Alan Malawanda second runner-up on 73 (94-21).
Fem Baracoso and Jake Infante rounded out the first three winners in Class C on countback after they tied on 69.
To Ed “Eboy” Razon went the longest drive award in the tournament sponsored by Vista Land.
The tournament honoree, Ador Laxa, who is set to leave the Kingdom for good after retiring from his job at Banque Saudi Fransi, delivered his farewell speech before his fellow FGAers.
A reunion and welcome tournament for Laxa will also be held April 9 at Beverly Place in Mexico, Pampanga, according to Sibug who succeeded Howard Laurente at the helm of the FGA. Vacationing FGA members at the time are welcome, Sibug said.
The new set of FGA officers in addition to Sibug are: Santuyo, vice president; Baracoso, secretary; Steve Marpuri, treasurer; and Razon, auditor.