Santuyo-Hwang wins FGA Ebrahim and Edwin Masalamah Golf Tournament

FGA gave a masalamah (farewell) to remember at the weekend for Ebrahim Zailon and Edwin Añonuevo, two of the
most accomplished players to grace the Filipino Golf Association roster who are both leaving the Kingdom on an exit visa only.
For two days FGAers had tons of fun and laughter in the Ebrahim and Edwin Ma’salamah Golf Tournament at the Dirab Golf & Country Club with the pair of Benj Santuyo and Paul Hwang emerging as champions in the two-ball blind partner format competition. Santuyo shot a net score of 68 and Hwang 70 for a winning average score of 72.
Eboi Razon (67) and FGA President and Riyadh Area Manager of Saudi TKT Co. Ltd. Resty Sibug (77) were first runner-up on 72. Añonuevo (71) and Ding Manalao (75) took 2nd runner-up on 73 and Chito Condes (70) and Abner Macapagal (78) 3rd runner-up.
Joe Vallado was the senior champion in the well attended tournament where the players had the option of either Friday or Saturday tee time. Manalao, a staff at the Philippine Embassy in the Riyadh like Zailon, swept the awards for nearest to the pin and longest putt, while Jun Paner and Julian Bennett, a big supporter of the FGA along with fellow New Zealander John Palalagi, claimed the perfect drive and longest drive accolades.
The awards ceremony took place Saturday afternoon at the Dirab Polo Club and Villas in which the affable Zailon became emotional as he spoke. He and Añonuevo, who is a technical consultant with SABB, were presented plaques of appreciation by the FGA. DGCC Golf Manager Bouchaib El Jaidani attended the ceremony. Also present were Michael Y. Bernardino, marketing manager of sponsor BDO Remit, and his staff namely Raefel Roxas and Julius Dela Torre.
The others who contributed to help make the event a success were Flore Bouzanne, Macapagal and Philip Cortejos.
Everyone enjoyed the overnight affair that will be best remembered for having surprise guest Daisy Reyes, the 1996 Miss Philippines International, former actress and now councilor of Pateros, Mar Vera Cruz’s signature flame grilled lamb chops, Howard Laurente’s pinapaitan, Edwin’s personally baked pandesal, and yes, kitchen master Oca Domingo who with assistance from Richard Gaas whipped up Pinoy favorites like kare-kare, sinigang na salmon, bopis and grilled bangus.
Another masalamah event for Ebrahim and Edwin takes place Friday at Nofa golf course.

Añonuevo FGA Matchplay champion
Held on the sidelines of the Dirab ma’salamah was the finale of the match play competition that took longer than usual to finish because of conflicts in the players’ schedules.
When the dust settled Añonuevo was crowned champion. He banked on his wealth of experience to beat most promising junior golfer Christer Rem Sibug 1-up in the final Saturday.
On current form and with plus 5 strokes in handicap Rem was fancied to win the final only for him to squander a 2-up lead going into the last four holes.
The turning point came when Rem hit his shot second shot out of bounds with a rescue club on the par-5 No. 15 that led to a double bogey. Edwin tied the match on 17th with a par to Rem’s bogey after they halved the par-3 16, and then clinched the title on 18 when Rem missed his bogey putt and he made his from 2 feet.
Edwin beat another second generation FGAer, David Lloyd Bantug, 3 and 2, to advance to the final opposite Rem who won by default over Pedy Lualhati.