RESULTS | German Club Golf

Tender Charity Golf Tournament – Ayala Greenfield Estates (March 17)

The Tender Charity Tournament at Ayala Greenfield delivered exactly what we all expected: A beautiful course, great weather… and widespread emotional damage.

The day started with a light drizzle before Greenfield did what Greenfield does best: quietly destroy scorecards while smiling politely.

And then there was Gerhard Kropp.While the rest of the field was busy “managing expectations,” Gerhard decided to ignore reality completely and post 37 Stableford points, becoming the only player to beat his handicap..

Rolf Dunder came in 2nd with 36 points, confirming that solid golf is still possible… just not for most people.

Peter Bichelmeir took 3rd place with 35 STP, edging out Steve Lawrence on count back.

On the specialty holes:

Peter Gassner won Nearest to the Pin on Hole 3, proving that at least one person can actually hit a green
Klaus Koppenhöfer hit a stunning 9-iron on Hole 14 (155 yards) — a shot so good it will now be mentioned at least 14 times at every future dinner
Joey Arenas absolutely destroyed the Longest Drive with 328 yards, then casually added Low Gross… just to make sure nobody else feels too comfortable

And then… “Hulk.” Driver. 6-iron. Eagle on Hole 10.

Most players needed driver, wedge, hybrid… and therapy.

The course was in good shape — which makes it even more impressive how creatively it was attacked (and survived) by the field.

The real winners, however, emerged after the round:

Buffet opened, wine poured, and suddenly everyone played “quite well actually.”

Stories improved rapidly. Distances increased. Putts dropped retroactively.

A big THANK YOU GOES TO KEITH BRADLEY, who made this event possible.

A fantastic day for a great cause — and a gentle reminder that in golf, hope is temporary, but scorecards are permanent.

The Nordlichter Cup - a new event on the Circuit

The Nordlichter Cup made its grand debut on the German Club Golf Circuit — and what a stage it chose.

Hosted at The Country Club in Laguna, one of the most prestigious golf courses not only in the Philippines but in all of Asia, the tournament delivered championship vibes from the first tee shot to the final toast.

The course? Pristine.

The greens? Lightning fast.

The weather? Suspiciously perfect.

The mild breeze? Just strong enough to blame when necessary.

The Battle for Nordic Glory

Leading the charge was Joey Arenas, who stormed to victory with 38 Stableford points, claiming the Overall Champion title — and promptly lowering his handicap by 2 strokes. A noble act of generosity, really, giving the rest of the field at least a mathematical chance in the next events.

Hot on his heels was Renz Koekenbier, the only other player to beat his handicap, finishing second with 37 STP’s. Clearly, training paid off.

Third place went to the ever-dangerous, seemingly unstoppable defending champion Joey Magcalyao, who posted 36 STP’s and edged out Stefan in a dramatic countback. Not content with that, Joey casually fired an even par 36 on the back nine — because apparently normal golf is overrated. He also walked away with the Low Gross Trophy, just to make sure his trophy cabinet continues to require structural reinforcement.

Ladies, Guests & Precision Specialists

Once again, April Rose Manese proved that consistency is queen, taking home the Ladies Champion honors.

The power award — Longest Drive — was claimed by Joey Arenas (yes, again).

Meanwhile, Steve Wesley delivered a masterclass in precision:

Closest to the Pin
Most Accurate Drive
And just for good measure… Guest Champion

When you’re hot, you’re hot.

🍷 From Fairways to Festivities

The celebrations moved to the stunning clubhouse of The Country Club, where a delicious buffet awaited the players. Wine flowed generously — which may explain why everyone suddenly remembered their “almost birdies” with remarkable clarity.Stories grew longer with each glass.

🙏 A Big Thank You

A special and heartfelt thank you to Manfred Rode for making this event possible and for securing this world-class venue for us.

The Nordlichter Cup was proudly sponsored by Manfred, Gerhard, and Stefan — proving once again that great tournaments happen when passion for golf meets great friendship (and excellent wine selection).

We are already looking forward to the next tournament at Ayala Greenfield

Until then: Hit them straight / Blame the wind / Practice your countback strategy.

PAYRETO CUP 2026
WIND, DRIZZLE & BRILLIANT GOLF

🏆 Champion (and Survivor of the Day) JOEY MAGCALYAO

Joey Magcalyao, fresh from winning the 2025 Bernhard Langer Trophy, added another title to his collection by winning the Payreto Cup on countback over Steve Lawrence. Both posted an impressive 36 Stableford points, proving that even Canlubang North has its limits. Joey also claimed Low Gross honors with a superb 81—a score that earned quiet respect, loud applause, and more than a few shaken heads.

Conditions: Not Easy - Very Canlubang.

The weather behaved… mostly. Light drizzles came and went, while steady easterly winds made club selection an ongoing philosophical debate. The course won most of the arguments, and not a single player managed to play below handicap.

The season opener attracted an excellent field of 42 players, all fully committed to golf, good company, and the belief that the next shot would surely be better.

Chasing the Champion:

2nd Runner-Up: Joe Sullivan with 35 STP, holding off Nico Punzalan on countback
Closest to the Pin: Joe Arenas and our generous host Tschangiz Scheybani
Most Accurate Drive: Nico Punzalan (proving accuracy still matters)
Ladies Champion & Longest Drive: April Rose Manese, our newest member, making an immediate and powerful impression
Guest Champion: Efren Alvez

Awards, Applause & Recovery

Trophies were presented during a luncheon on the clubhouse terrace, where stories improved, swings got shorter, and scores became increasingly “explainable.”

PAYRETO CUP - A Certified Classic

Now played for the 5th time, the Payreto Cup has officially earned its status as a classic on the German Club Golf Circuit calendar—challenging, competitive, and always worth coming back for.

With Thanks

A very big THANK YOU to Dr. Tschangiz Scheybani, CEO and Co-Founder of Payreto, for being a generous host and for once again supporting a tournament that perfectly combines great golf, great company and lots of fun!