Vigil leads, Liquigan, Ball score in Vista Land Race to Manila

Jose Vigil took the solo lead on 1,490 total points with his victory in the Men’s First Division even as Eric Liquigan and Rick Ball won Best Gross and Best Net honors during the third round in the Vista Land Race to Manila golf tournament at the Dirab Golf & Country Club last Saturday.
Sponsored by Vista Land International Marketing Inc. in cooperation with Saudi Golf Business Society (SGBS), and Filipino Golf Association, the competition comprised four tournaments including 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 four tournaments 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.
The Best Gross champion in the first round and the Men’s First Division (0-9) first runner-up in the second round, Vigil compiled a net score of 71 to win the division from Robin Williamson (72) and Julian Bennett (72).
Williamson took second place on countback by comparing scores, shooting 27 on the last six holes to 29 for New Zealander Bennett, as he took his total 1,480, right behind Vigil, on the strength of his victories in the first two rounds including the Best Net honors in the second round.
Liquigan steadied on the back nine to shoot a Best Gross score of 77 that gave him his first victory in the four-leg series at the head of a Filipino charge that saw Allan Malawanda and David Lloyd Bantug finish 1-2 in the men’s Third Division (19-28) on 68 and 69 and the promising Christer Rem Sibug, a third year high school student at Palm Crest International, clinch the Men’s Second Division title on 69.
Liquigan, among the so-called Big Four in Filipino golf in the Kingdom that also includes Richard Gaas, Alex Arellano and Resty Sibug, stumbled with five bogeys to hit the turn on 41 before recovering coming home on level par 36.
Third place in the Third Division went to Moiz Ahmed on 70 while the last two podium places in Second Division were filled by Kenneth Lowery and Anjum Mulla on countback after both players tied on 71.
Ball, with an 18 handicap, won his second Best Net crown via the countback from Malawanda having also triumphed in the first round. He failed to gain a podium finish in the second and his total stands at 1,400 in a tied sixth with Raghe Hassan.
Lyna Avriett was the Ladies Division winner on 83.
The longest drive award went to Williamson and closest to the pin plum to Vigil.
Vista Land Managing Director Flore Bouzanne handed out prizes to the winners with Dirab Golf Committee Chair Tariq Javed during the prize distribution ceremony.
Top 10 standings after three rounds:
1. Jose Vigil 1,490 total points 2. Robin Williamson 1,480 3. Eric Liquigan 1,440 4. Noor Halim 1,430 5. Resty Sibug 1,410 6. Raghe Hassan 1,400 7. Ric Ball 1,400 8. Allan Malawanda 1,390 9. David Lloyd Bantug 1,390 10. Christer Rem Sibug 1,390