By Jimmy Pimentel
BELLA Vista civil engineer Ferdinand Francisco scored a gross 76 strokes at Hudson Park’s par 60 golf course for a net 49 on a 27 handicap to win the inaugural Grace/Media Golf Cup on Sunday, 15 December 2013.
Jun Gonzales took runner-up honours with a net score of 51, on a 25 handicap. He had tied with Tony Salalila, on a 25 handicap, to take the second prize on a count-back.
A small field of 10 golfers teed off at 7:45am on a cool, cloudy day and intermittent light showers. Chief organiser Ric de Vera decided to scrap the original format of having non-golfing caddies to do all the putting when only two showed up for the challenge.
One would-be caddy was Corazon Francisco, GP wife of the eventual Cup winner. “Sayang, I was looking forward to putting for Ferdi,” she said.
The winner’s prize, presented to Francisco by de Vera, comprised a tall silver cup and a voucher for two nights’ accommodation with breakfast at The Grace Hotel in Sydney.
The runner-up trophy presented to Salalila was donated by Travel Access. A sleeve of golf balls, donated by de Vera, was also presented to the winner and the runner-up.
Major and naming sponsor was The Grace Hotel, courtesy of general manager Philip Pratley and arranged by marketing director Craig Gosling.
The one-day tournament was a fund-raiser for the newly formed Filipino Australian Basketball League, incorporated in July 2013 as the Filipino Australian Basketball Inc, to harness and develop basketball talent among Filipino-heritage youth in Australia.
Total money raised after expenses was $200.
The Cup results were:
Champion – Ferdi Francisco, net 49 strokes (27 handicap)
Runner-up on a count-back – Jun Gonzales, net 51 strokes (25 handicap).
Tony Salalila – net 51 strokes ( 23 handicap)
Martin Pimentel – net 55 strokes (17 handicap);
Ric de Vera – net 56 strokes, 21 handicap)
Tony Vivero – net 56 strokes (29 handicap) ;
Willy Trinidad – net 56 strokes (15 handicap)
Carlos Perez – net 61 strokes (16 handicap) ;
Mon Carpo – social player (beginner) gross strokes 110
Julian Carpo – social player (beginner) gross strokes 115.