RIYADH, 13 February 2004 — One chilly Friday morning some 20 card-bearing members of the Filipino Golf Association turned up at the Riyadh Golf Club course for the kick-off event of the 2004 season.
A net score of three under par 70 proved enough for Gin Disomimba, of the Philippine Embassy staff, to claim overall honors in the January monthly tournament.
Staying out of trouble by keeping his ball in the fairway, the 17-handicapper Disomimba shot nines of 44-43 for a gross 87. Nelson de Leon, in his second term as FGA president, used a hot back nine to outstrip his peers in Class A (0-13 handicap), while Ding Manalao, another Philippine Embassy golfer, claimed the Class B (14-24) title in the 18-hole event that launched FGA 2004 season.
Hitting power drives with his simple yet effective style, de Leon fired a winning net score of 75, one stroke clear of steady Peddy Lualhati.
De Leon, with an 11 handicap, made a gross 86 on nines of 49-37 while the 10-handicapper Lualhati had an identical 86 on 47-39.
A third 86 was submitted by nine-handicapper Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla, who tallied 42-44. In winning the Class B plum, Manalao put together nines of 48-46 for a gross 94 and he just missed the overall honors after a countback with Disomimba. Manalao's 24 handicap also gave him a net total of 70.
Besides de Leon the other officers who will run the affairs of the FGA in 2004 are Joey Garcia, vice president; Al Zamora, secretary; Pat Raz, auditor; Angel Rodriguez, director finance; Alex Arellano, director technical, and Rudy Pranga, director awards and sponsorship.
Up next on FGA's calendar of activities will be the February monthly tournament, tentatively set for Feb. 20.
