BAGUIO CITY – Gary Norris opened with a 31 to lead Darwin Golf Club of Australia to 100 and take a five shot lead in Fil-A at the start of the second week of competition in the 66th Fil-Am Golf Invitational at the Baguio Country Club course, today, Nov. 30.
This as Manila Southwoods starts its title defense against seven other teams including Royal Northwoods and San Miguel – Northern Cement at the same course, tomorrow, Dec. 1 in a new schedule for the top flight where two games are played before taking a break and resume the day after.
With the 27 of Kyle Butler, the 24 of Andrew Joraslafsky and 18 of Peter Hergreaves, the defending champion carry a five shot lead on Silicon Valley Golfers Link I in the event presented by San Miguel Corporation.
Cesar Cabang led Silicon Valley with 27, 25 from Den Luzon, 22 of Manny Dagdagan and Ramon Ocampo as they take a three shot lead on two other teams – Rural Bankers I and Fil Golfers of Hawaii.
Over at the Camp John Hay golf course, Rading Decepida made 29, Erwin Temeña and Alex Ignacio fired a pair of 28s and Thirdy Escaño chipped in 22 points as Team Sparta tallied 107 and a one shot in Am – A.
Jaime Fernandez led Villa Cacho – Benlife with 31and 106, which is one up on Baguio City Golf Team I which was bannered by Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan who had 30 points.
Gary Agcon and Winston Agcon fired a pair of 26s as they led Greenwater Meadows to 100 and a four shot lead in Fil – D. Larry Puckett added 21 and Ramsey Sudaypan contributed 17 for the team.
Phil Navy Golf Club is four shots down after a 26 from Kazuo Murakami, a 24 from Ramon Fernando, and a pair of 18s from Rene Floro and Joey Anciano. Lorenzo Angelo Castro had a 24 for Ultraflite Golf Club II’s 80 which is good for third spot.
Fred Puckett and Monet Garcia shot a similar 26 as they led Camp John Hay to 101 and a two shot lead on co-host BCC at the latter’s home course at the start of Fil-B competitions.
Juan Miguel Garcia and Shean Bedi added 25 and 24, respectively to count for John Hay.
BCC, on the other hand, had a two over 63 for 34 from Goodie Ignacio, 24 from Jjef Razon, 22 from Euls Austin and 19 from Ely Lagman for the team’s 99 and a shot up on Che’lus I.
Camp Aguinaldo and TGIS Davao, meanwhile, opened with a similar 103 to jointly take the lead lead in Am – B.
Noel Beleran, Antonio Bautista and Martin Jickian all scored 27 points to pace the cops even as Iñigo Bilbao added 22 to count for the team.
Patrick Tan and Oscar Rebosura both shot 28 to lead for TGUS, while Jeffrey Ramirez and Rufino Cabang added 27 and 20, respectively to count for the team.
Martin Salazar made 26 as Isabela Golf Club II – Leaders made 90 and a two shot lead in Am D. Nick Sebastian, Daniel Gatan and Totep Calderon had 24, 23 and 17, respectively to count for the team.
Inoc Laranang posted a 24, while Jack Puckett and Herr Bautista each made a 22 and Melchor Rabanes accounted for 20 as Baguio City Golf Team II made 88 and good for second spot.
Eddie Montero made 27 to lead NY/NJ Bibak NE I – Golfers to 80 and third spot.
“Southwoods at Northwoods,” said San Miguel – Northern Cement’s Eddie Bagtas, whose mission is to win the top flight in both the seniors and regular divisions of which half has already been accomplished.
Southwoods will be bannered by Justin Quiban, who led the team to a 17 point victory, and last year’s individual winner and will be backstopped by veteran Chepe Dulay, Yuto Katsugara and newcomers Ryan Monsalve and Kristoffer Arevalo.
Bagtas hopes to get the better of the Carmona, Cavite based parbusters with new recruit Rupert Zaragoza and to be supported by Lanz Uy, JP de Claro, Maynard Ko and Jelbert Gamolo.
Royal Northwoods will have Jobim Carlos, Rocky Brobio, Carlo Villaroman, Liam Lully, Carlo Gatmaytan, Richard Joson and Niko Santiago.
Also in the quest are two time champion Mizuno – Superstars Evercode, one time champion Forest Hills (2012), Che’lus, which in 2011 lost through countback to Mizuno and the returning Luisita Golf Club, which last saw action in 1994.
Also seeing action in the top flight of the San Miguel title presented event is Team Surigao I. -30-