Vigil, Ball draw first blood in Vista Land Race to Manila golf tilt

Jose Vigil and Rick Ball emerged the overall Best Gross and overall Best Net champions to be the first players to take off from the starting block in the Vista Land Race to Manila golf tournament that started last Friday at Dirab Golf & Country Club on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Sponsored by Vista Land International Marketing Inc. in cooperation with Saudi Golf Business Society (SGBS), Filipino Golf Association and Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers the competition comprised five tournaments leading up to the final in November, according to DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jadiani.
El Jadiani said points will be awarded to the winners in each of the five tournament akin to the FedEx Cup as follows: 500 to first place, 490 to second place, 480 to third place and so on, with 1,000 points awaiting the winner in the November final. An all-expenses paid trip to Manila will be awarded to the Race to Manila champion in both the Best Gross and Best Net categories.
American Vigil played steady golf after a rocky start to shoot a winning 3-over 75, well in front of Filipino playing partners Alex Arellano and Resty Sibug who had matching cards of 85.
Vigil bogeyed his opening hole, the par-5 No. 1, dropped two more strokes after hitting out of bounds off the tee on the next hole and after he again bogeyed No. 3 was ready to quit out of frustration until Sibug cajoled him against it.
Helped by back-to-back birdies from the eighth hole, Vigil hit the turn on 40 and further birdies on the two remaining par-5 holes, 13 and 15, against a bogey on 17 gave him a 1-under 35 coming in.
Arellano, winner of the Saudi Hollandi Bank Open here in April, was level par after the first nine holes and 4 up on Vigil until disaster struck on 10 where he signed for an 8 after opting not to take a penalty drop from an unplayable lie and taking three swings to get out. He never recovered after that for a back nine of 49.
Ball, a 19 handicap, returned the low net of the day, a 63, shooting nines of 39-43 for a gross score of 82.
Vigil and Ball were also effectively the first-place winners in their divisions. Second to Vigil in the men’s First Division (0-9 handicap) was Robin Williamson on 74 with Stuart Walker third on 75. In second place behind Ball via the countback in the Third Division (19-28) was Ian McDonald who tied with John Davies on 66.
In another tight battle in Second Division (10-18) Raghe Hassan won by one stroke from Halim who in turn beat promising Filipino junior golfer David Lloyd Bantug who has moved up to the men’s division. Hassan tallied 65 while Halim and Bantug carded identical 66s.
Liz Kennedy won by countback from Lynda Avriett of the Ladies Division title after both players tied on 73, while Susan Tessier took third position on 77.
The men’s and ladies longest drive awards went to Edwin Añonuevo and Kennedy while Mumbra Ibrahim took home the closest to pin accolade.
Despite the hot weather the event attracted a full field of more than 100 players.
Jason B. Mande, marketing head of Vista Land, handed out prizes to the winners during the prize distribution ceremony assisted by SGBS President Abdullah Masoud.