Former PBA center Tonichi Yturri copped top honors in Class A in the recent 2nd PBA Legends Foundation golf tournament held last Tuesday at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.
Yturri, a member of the 1989 San Miguel Beermen team that won the PBA grand slam title, topped the Class A division with a net of 70, winning by tiebreak over Efren Capa because of a lower handicap. The 6’5 bruiser, who also had several coaching and assistant coaching stints in various collegiate leagues, won top honors eight months after scoring a hole-in-one in the 5th hole of the Orchard Golf & Country Club also in Cavite.
Rolly Tolores took top prize honors for Class B with a net 71, nipping Ferdie Inacay by a stroke, while Kenneth Capa brought home the hardware in Class C with a net of 72, a stroke ahead of runner-up Gerald Castillo. Timmy Untalan won the Class D division with a net 75, winning in a tiebreak due to low handicap over Dan Suarez.
In the ladies’ division, Myra Caparros scored a net 72 to top the distaff side. Angela Yazaki settled for runner-up with a net 73.
A side attraction was the “fun holes,” where the individual skills of the participants were recognized. Steve Almeda took honors in the “Nearest the Pin” award at hole #3, Rolly Tolores hammered a 282-yard drive at hole #8 to win the “Longest Drive,” while Mack Lim won the “Most Accurate Drive” recognition at hole #18 by placing his ball within 1 foot away from the hole.
Also cited with special recognition awards were the participants with the overall low net and overall low gross scores. Marvin Gelisan won overall low net honors with a net 69 while former UST Glowing Goldie star Edmund Yee won overall low gross honors with a net 69. Yee, a teammate of PBA Legends Foundation corporate secretary\ Ed Cordero at España, is also the President and CEO of Ford EDSA.
A raffle was held after all players completed their 18 holes featuring various prizes for the participants. The grand prize of a 55” Samsung Smart TV was won by former Toyota coach and manager Dante Silverio. Other raffle prizes featuring sophisticated household appliances were also donated by Nutritech.
Former PBA players like Atoy Co, Jojo Lastimosa, Kenneth Duremdes as well as former FEU point guard Danny Manalastas took the opportunity to perfect their swings in the fairway. Four-timePBA MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Defense Minister Jerry Codiñera and Vince “The Prince” Hizon also came later in the day with Hizon staying around to assist in the awarding ceremonies.
The 2nd PBA Legends golf tournament was spearheaded by Co, the Foundation chairman. More than 70 avid golf players from the movie, television and sports industries participated in this one-day tournament intended to raise funds to provide medical support and assistance to former PBA players in need.
“Masaya kami dito sa Foundation at naging successful itong event na ito,” an optimistic Co said. “Gusto namin pasalamatan lahat ng lumahok, lahat ng tumulong sa amin para ma-hold itong tournament na to. Lalo na sa aming mga sponsors at kaibigan sa media. We’re hoping this won’t be the last golf tournament we’ll be hosting.”
The event would not have been possible without the generosity of sponsors OKBet, San Miguel Corporation, PLDT-SMART, Gloria Maris Restaurant, Metro Pacific Tollways Group, NLEX, SM Prime, Ford EDSA, Boysen Paints, Megacem, Inc., Don Lee Builders, Inc., Mighty David, Arlo Aluminum Co, Inc., Gardiola Group of Companies, Hyco, Excel Coil Coating Corp, Isabela Vice Governor Faustino “Bojie” Dy, III, Igan ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc., Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corporation, SOGO, Corbridge Group Phils, Inc., Nutritech, Go for Gold and Mr. Manny Sy.