BAGUIO CITY – Salvador Arcilla scored 29 points and lead Team Glutamex Men to 82 points for a one stroke lead over two other teams in Am G at the start of the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament presented by San Miguel at the Baguio Country Club.
Arcilla got 23 from Joseph Dominic Samson, 17 from Robert Nazal and 13 from Paolo Legazpi and lead 10 other teams in the flight as games begin the biggest and oldest amateur golfing event in the world which was met by rains.
LNP and Anagen Hair Growers which are tied at 81 points.
Vic Morada and Gerard Farin submitted an identical 23 points even as Emmanuel de Ocampo and Raymund Aguilar had 18 and 17 points, respectively to score in the five to play four to count event.
Joel Lopez, Manny Balangue and Danilo Victoria scored 22, 21 and 20 to lead the hair growers to the same output even as Rocky Sun chipped in 18 points.
Meanwhile, at the Camp John Hay golf course, Gold Baria and Jay Alonzo came in with a pair of 29 and lead Apo Golfers team Service to 108 and a five point lead in Fil G.
Anto Florida and Fonso Abastillas contributed 25 points each while Joe Roncesvalles had 20 points and did not count.
John Marasigan had a one over 70 for 35 points and lead EK Amigo to 103. Marasigan, the head of the local PLDT, had a birdie at the par four eighth but wobbled with two bogeys at the11th and 15th, both par threes for his output.
Steve Paartan made 24, while the Amigos got 22 points from Dan Pangilinan and Rudy Ragragio.
Square & Compass of Nueva Ecija II is six shots down with 97. The Nueva Ecijans had 26 from Percival Peralta, 25 from Efren de Leon and a pair of 23 from Rodel Matias and Ganriel Nocum. Squar & Compass is just a point off Club Intramuros in the 10 squad Fil G.
This as defending seniors Fil Championship defending champion San Miguel starts defense of its title especially against 2014 champion Pugo Adventures and former champions Manila Southwoods and Megafiber.
Chito Laureto will be the first to test the CJH course when he tees off the first at 7:10 along with Pugo’s Ed Montenegro whom they beat in an exciting finale last year where San Miguel nipped Pugo through countback. The two teams finished tied after four rounds.
Benjie Sumulong, Jingky Tuason, former ace pro Eddie Bagtas and Bong Sison will tee off in that order as they face Pugo’s Fred Puckett, the many time Seniors Group A winner, Goody Ignacio, Douglas Puckett and Park Jong Won, also in that order.
“Our teams, all locals, will try to defend local honor,” said non-playing team captain Peter Go.
“Mas malakas ngayon ang team namin para madefend ang title,” vowed Bagtas.
By Dexter A. See
