BAGUIO CITY – Luisita Golf & Country Club started its bid in the premier Championship flights carrying both a four shot lead in the 68th Department of Tourism Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay golf courses today (Dec 3).
Ondoy Mondillo opened with a four over 65 for 32 points to power the Tarlac squad – which was practically last year’s winner San Miguel – Northern Cement – to a 121 total at the par-61 BCC course which again proved a puzzle for even the top flight players.
With the pair of 31 from leadman Jingky Tuason and Chito Laureta and 27 from former pro Eddie Bagtas, Luisita staved off the challenge of Manila Southwoods and Megafiber, former multi-champions in the 55 year old division.
“This is a strong team, the members are veteran of the PAL Interclub and they know that,” said Bagtas, a former Philippine seniors champion who almost did not count when most expected that last man Rodel Mangalubnan will hit more than 27. Mangalubnan came home with a 26 and did not count.
When winds and undulating terrain perplexed even the toughest, Bagtas complained of a painful foot that nearly forced him not to play. Limping, Bagtas struggled to score for the team which is composed of long hitters not really attuned with the short and terse BCC layout.
“It will be at John Hay that we can see their play,” added Bagtas, who may then be able to use a cart.
Former pro Raul Minoza carded the first even par score with his 61 and 36 points to lead the Carmona, Cavite based Southwoods.
Bong Sison backed the former pro with 30 points, even as Sang Jin Lee and Judd Roy chipped in 26 and 25 points, respectively for the team which got 14 from Kui Sun Moon and did not count.
Megafiber is a distant third with 101 from the 29 of Rene Unson, 27 of Rolly Viray, 26 of Jose Mari Hechanova and 19 of Albert MG Garcia. Bing Bunye made 19 and did not count.
Luisita eyes a double whammy when its Am squad took a four shot lead at CJH.
Benjie Sumulong had a near perfect game when he submitted a one over for 35 points that was marred by a pick-up at the last hole and a bogey at the ninth.
The team tallied 120 after a pair of 29 from Raffy Garcia and Alan Alegre and a 27 from former CJH golf director Jeric Hechanova.
At 116 is co-host CJH which tallied 116 on the 32 of Monet Garcia, 30 from Jung Sek Jun, 28 from Goody Ignacio and 26 from Park Jong Won –
Dugong Bughaw is at third spot with 104, two shots off Baguio City led by mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Three teams occupied the top spot after shooting the same output at the start of competition in Fil A at the BCC layout as teams from the
Host BCC, Forest Hills and Nueva Ecija all shot similar 88 points to share the top position even as another r team is just three shots down.
Isaac Go shot 27 points to lead the co-host even as Ed Montenegro came in with 22, Mars Garcia with 21 and Bong de Guzman churned in 18 points to count in the five to play four to count tournament presented by San Miguel Corporation.
Boo Keon Jung, meanwhile topscored for Forest Hills with 26, Rodolfo Villa had 24, while Armando Buenaventura and Gene Lim chipped in 20 and 18, respectively for the team’s game tying 88.
Nueva Ecija, on the other hand, had 24 points from Ed Manzanares, a pair of 22s from Bobby Inigo and Butch Bakunawa and 1 20 from Doy Mercado.
Bernie Balagtas scored 26 points to lead Macquarie Links Australia to lurk behind the three squads with 85 points.
Herminio Salvio shot 29 points and opened San Miguel’s bid with a five point lead in Seniors Am A. With 28 points from Efren Alvez and a pair of 25s from Domingo Manuel and Ariel Javelalosa, San Miguel assembled 107 points to lead the six squad flight at the longer CJH course.
Wednesday Club Mimosa leaned on Senen Quiambao who shot 30 points for the team’s 102 points. Scorers for the team are: Wolf Simandl (29), Willy Valencia (28) and Noel Yamzon (15).
Two shots down is Team Na Koa with 100 on the pair of 30s of Vic Ovales and Eugene Chiong and a 23 and 21 from Rene Ramos and Rick Ballucanag.
Okinawa is just another point down in the flight.
Meanwhile, Guam Golf Swingers tapered down in day two when it shot 72 points for 158 points for a measly single point lead on a suddenly hot Teerifics which shot the day’s best of 86 in Fil B.
The Guamanians got 22 from Noly Carino, 20 from Jeff Lowery, 19 from Dan Ganacias and 11 from Willie Jamero as they take a day break before going to the longer CJH course.
Teerifics got a pair of 26s from Ding Sevilla and Pol Sanchez, while Ramon Bernabe and Art Carlos added a 22 and 16, respectively. Tom Adarme churned in 16 points and did not count.
Gol F Veterans is another shot down after a 73 on the 21 of Jun Bucago, 20 of Jose Cortina, 17 of Danny Gonzales and 15 of Flor Fajilan as the erstwhile second ranked team moved down to third spot, four up on Brent Residences.
BCC shot 78 points for 161 points and retain a single point lead on PR Bank – Isabela which nipped two off the leader.
Jun Basabica led BCC with 22, even as Paeng Ding, Herr Bautista and Mon Aldana chipped in 20, 19 and 17, in that order to count for the team.
Noel Binag scored 22, Willy Enciso and Ferdinand Ambatali made a similar 20 and Mel Asis came in with 18 as the team matched its first day production of 80 for a 160 aggregate and a looming showdown with the co-host in the last two days.
Horizon Golf is 18 points down after a 67 and 142, just a point off ICSI/TMI which made 76 for a 141 aggregate.
By Dexter A. See
