Once a game of shepherds in the olden days, golf has evolved as a past time of the rich and affluent. The calm breeze, the blue sky and the wide-open green course of the game gives its players a time to unwind and relax from the busy day at work and a chance to reconnect with old friends.

In the spirit of the Alumni Homecoming season, the Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity together with the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society (UPMAS) held the UPMAS and Mu Sigma Phi Golf Open, an 18-hole golf tournament, at the Valley Golf and Country Club Executive Course last December 16, 2011. A warm sunny day had graced this charitable event, the proceeds of which are allotted for the upcoming Pterygium Surgical Mission of the UP PGH Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, in line with their 50th anniversary celebration.

Sixteen doctors from different hospitals across NCR had graced the event to have a good time outside of their busy schedules in the hospital. Among the brods present were Dr. Nicolas S. Molon MΣΦ 1972, Dr. Alberto V.G. Romualdez MΣΦ 1965 and Dr. Juan L. Rosas MΣΦ 1986.

After four hours of play on the green, a sumptuous lunch was served as the doctors shared their experiences and relaxed under the fair weather while waiting for the announcement of winners and giving away of raffle prizes. Using a Golf System 36 scoring, the winners of the golf tournament were categorized into Class B, those with a Gross Score of 94 and above and Class A, those with a Gross Score of 84-93.

Dr. Fernando Piedad triumphed in Class B with a gross score of 100, a handicap of 27 and a net of 73, while Dr. Edwin Reyes took Class A with a gross score of 84, a handicap of 13 and a net of 71. Both champions received a gold trophy and a new set of Titlist golf balls.

Dr. Nicolas S. Molon MΣΦ 1972 was awarded a golf trophy and a set of golf balls for having the Lowest Gross Score of 80, a handicap 10, and a Net of 70. On the other hand, Dr. Ramon Tria also received the same set of prizes for having the Lowest Net Score of 71.

 

To end the tournament on a lighter note, a raffle was held with the lucky winners being Dr. Sam Gioskas who brought home a Dowell Oven Toaster, Mr. Anton Aquino of Ajanta Pharma who won a Union 16-inch stand fan, Dr. Jun Baysa with a Garant Coffee Maker and Dr. Quasi Romualdez bringing home the grand prize of a 22-inch Samsung LCD TV.

The UPMAS-Mu Sigma Phi Golf Open would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Dr. Benito Reverente, the UPMAS Ways and Means Committee Chairman, UPMAS-Mu Golf head Jose Vicente M. Danguilan MΣΦ 2013, project adviser Nicolas S. Molon MΣΦ 1972, and its sponsors Biomedis Inc., Galileo SurgiCenter, Vicente L. Danguilan Memorial Clinic, Westmont Pharmaceuticals, Bacoor Doctor’s Medical Center, Diliman Doctor’s Hospital, Marikina Medical Center, Manila East Medical Center, St. James Hospital, Inc. and the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal of the Philippine General Hospital-Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

This tournament is part of the annual UPMAS Alumni Homecoming celebrations. The success of this year's Open may be the predecessor to a grander tournament planned for next year and may serve to help revive the UP Medical Alumni Golf Club in the future.

Written by Jom Dychioco, Batch 2016

Photos by Pinggoy Danguilan MΣΦ 2013