CAMARINES Sur Governor Luis Raymund 'LRay' Villafuerte denied he and his partner committed any form of cheating that led to their disqualification from the Mango Tee member-guest tournament of the Alabang Golf and Country Club.
Villafuerte and partner Francis Edward Tolentino finished second behind the partnership of Ronin Leviste and Darren Flores in the Overall Net category (meaning the players' scores after the handicaps are applied) of one of the country's most prestigious member-guest tournaments.
READ How Alabang board arrived at decision to DQ Mango Tee winners
However, the two teams were later disqualified and asked to return their trophies by the Alabang Golf Club board, which cited the players' 'highly unusual and statistically improbable' scores under the game's handicapping system.
Villafuerte explained he and his partner had an impressive score in the first of the two rounds they played. But he insisted that their overall score was 'believable,' especially compared to the scores posted by Leviste and Flores.
"Ayoko na po 'yung may insinuation na may nangyaring mali, kasi yun po ang insinuation na parang may mali kaming ginawa," Villafuerte said in an interview with DZRH anchor Deo Macalma as he hit out at the board resolution.
“Sana in-explain nila, unbelievable raw 'yung score. Yung sa amin po, believable. Yung sa kabila ang hindi, so nadamay talaga kami," he added, obviously referring to the scores of Flores and Leviste, the son of former Batangas vice-governor Mark Leviste.
“Ang nakakalungkot kasi, parang sa social media, nandaya po kaming mag-teammate."
For background, the young Leviste, a 24-handicapper, scored a gross of 80 which gave him a first-round net score of 16-under par. Along with his 15-handicapper partner, the team scored 180 (93-87) points under the Stableford scoring system that gives one point for a net bogey, 2 for net par, 3 for net birdie, 4 for net eagle and 5 for a hole in one or an albatross.
Villafuerte, a 21-handicapper, and Tolentino (18) pooled 175 on scores of 86 and 89 and finished five points behind.
When he met with the board before the awarding ceremony, Villafuerte claimed what was discussed was not his team's score but claims that his partner Tolentino is a 'senior pro' - an issue which the governor said he was able to belie.
"Actually po, ipinatawag na ako ng board kasi kinuwestiyon po yung kakampi ko na senior pro raw," Villafuerte told Macalma, who, incidentally, played in his foursome in Day One. "So, pinatunayan namin na hindi po siya senior, 48 years old, hindi rin siya pro.
“So sabi ng board, ‘Cleared ka na.’ Kaya lang, sabi na lang, e, itong si Mark Leviste na member ng Mango Tee board saka 'yung anak niya na nanalo, sila yung nagrereklamo," he added.
Villafuerte claimed he was already being congratulated in the clubhouse at the end of the tournament by friends after the initial scores posted by organizers showed his team posting the best score.
“Si Mark Leviste po ay vice-chairman ng Mango Tee [committee], yung anak niya member. Sabi ko nga, sana nung contender sila, nag-withdraw na [dahil sa] conflict of interest," Villafuerte continued.
“Ang nangyari po, kami yung lamang pero binawasan yung handicap ni Ronin. Biglang nagwala raw itong si Mark Leviste sa golf committee. Biglang ginawa siyang [Ronin] champion," Villafuerte told the DZRH host.
“Bago po nag-awarding, kami po yung nag-champion. Ang daming nag-congratulate. Meron po akong pruweba, ipinost, e. After ten minutes, binura."
When he heard the crowd boo Leviste and Flores during the awarding ceremony on Saturday, Villafuerte said he declined to go on stage to receive his runner-up trophy.
“Sila po yung umakyat sa stage na binoo. Nakakalungkot na pati kami nadamay ba. Kasi siyempre, sabi ko nga, pulitiko," he said. “Sobrang lakas po ng boo. Nandoon nga ako.
"Ako po tinawag, hindi na ako umakyat [sa stage] kasi medyo nadisganado na ako. Gusto ko na nga i-waive yun, e, kasi dun pa lang, parang may mali."
LRay in disbelief
Villafuerte said he, too, was left in disbelief by the scores posted by Leviste.
“Ang nangyari po, yung Ronin Leviste, may 24 handicap, pumalo ng 8 over, meaning 16 under his handicap, so dun talaga binoo ng mga tao. Na-research ko po na kahit ang pro, hindi nagsi-16 under.
"Ang ibig sabihin ng 16 under, sobrang galing po, kahit sa Guinness Book of Records, 13 under lang. So, tumaas yung kilay ng mga tao," he said.
Former senator issues denial
Leviste and his partner have yet to issue any statement since the controversy broke out.
On the other hand, former Senator Francis Tolentino, through his official social media pages, denied that he is the Tolentino that was involved in the controversy. He also denied any relation to Villafuerte's partner.
Villafuerte said he and his partner are willing to give back their trophies, but expressed hope that the Alabang board take steps to clarify what he termed as a flawed statement on the issue.
“Oo, wala naman problema. Isosoli po namin yan," he said. "[Pero] nali yung [statement na] in-issue ng Mango Tee committee. Mali-mali po. Wala naman pong pandaraya na nangyari. Nagulat lang ako sa board resolution.
"Nag-release sila [ng statement] kasi po grabe yung atake sa social media dun kay Mark Leviste, sa anak niya. Medyo may problema din po yung board na nagpaimpluwensiya sila kung kani-kanino. Ang Mango Tee pa naman, prestigious po. Ngayon medyo nagdududa na yung mga tao.
“And yung inisyu nila na board resolution, parang saving their face na lang. Nakakalungkot na nadadamay po ako diyan. Nakakahiya pa yung ginawa.
"Gentleman’s sport po ang golf, kailangan honest ka. Nakita ninyo naman na honest naman po tayo."
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