BAGUIO CITY – Luisita Golf and Country Club is on a cruise control towards the most coveted title this week of the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Tournament as it fired a tournament best 136 and erect a 37 point lead with a round to go.
So devastating was the Luisita onslaught with former pro player Eddie Bagtas leading the charge with his three under for 39 points.
Danilo Cruz shot a one over for 35, Rodel Mangulabnan shot his second straight 33, while Benjie Sumoloing finally counted with 29. Chino Raymundo ahd a 24 in the five to play four to count tournament.
Theody Pascual led Manila Southwoods with 34 for a 117 day three production and 348 total to stay at second place. Former pro Raul Minoza chipped in a 31, while the rest of the crew shot a similar 26, one of which did not count.
Camp John Hay may now content itself to third place with 333 after a 113, 10 shots off deposed champion Megafiber which made 107 and 323 total.
The battle for supremacy in Am Championship got pretty exciting when Dugong Bughaw wrested the lead from two day leader Luisita.
Dugong Bughaw shot a flight best 97 and a three day aggregate of 331 for a three shot lead on Luisita which scrambled to 87 as play shifted at the shorter Baguio Country Club course.
Rollie Valdez led the fiery charge of Dugong Bughaw with 29 points. Miguel Moreda, Edgar Lee and Noel Marcellano contributed to the team with their 224, 23 and 21 points, in that order.
Edmund Yee had a 27 to lead Luisita, while Raffy Garcia added 23 to substantially contribute for the team but managed to get a 19 and 18 from Demy Saclot and Chito Laureta.
Summit Point & Country Club also shot an 87 for 319, nine off Luisita and two up on Manila Southwoods which continue its slide with an 83 and 317 total.
Meanwhile, Camp John Hay remains dominating and continue to leave four other teams biting the dust with another spectacular 85 points for 264 and 46 point bulge with only a round remaining in Super Seniors or players 70 years old and above.
Retired Korean architect Park Jong Won paced the team with 29 and now carries a six point lead on individual champion Mauricio Domogan, his teammate and number two man now after the former Baguio Mayor shot 25. Retired Air Force general Nelson Eslao had a 19, while Jun Tolete counted with a 13.
Senior Golfers Veteran, Inc. is a far second with 218 after a 76, while Eaglemasters tallied 58 and 176 total.
By Dexter A. See
Photo: RIGHT PARK-ING. Park Jong Won chips in for an easy shot during the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament where he again top scored for defending super seniors champion Camp John Hay. The retired Korean architect leads defending individual champion Mauricio Domogan by six in the individual race.
