BAGUIO CITY (13 Dec) – With chances winning in the premiere Fil Championship flight getting slimmer every year with club houses fortifying their arsenal, X1R Mizuno this year slipped one flight lower and instead joined an also very competitive Fil-A flight and found itself at the lead with a familiar team close behind.
Mizuno opened with 125 points at the Camp John Hay golf course and take a five point lead over Che Lus I, the same team it narrowly escaped for the Fil Championship flight title eight years ago.
Ace Stehmeier and Justin Tambunting opened with two over for 34 points to pace the sport apparel makers to the lead, while the older Stehmeier, King, settled for 29 and Gab Macalagum had a 28 to count. Brixton Aw’s 24 did not count in the five to play four to count format tournament, the biggest and oldest in this part of the world.
For Che Lus, Mike Castro and Ray Blas had a pair of 33s, Warren Pelletier had a 32, while Jesse Quenga and John Quinata came in with 22 one of which did not count.
They were practically the same members of the team that held Mizuno to a stalemate in 2011, but the latter won the title through countback, its first and last in the premiere flight before Southwoods found its winning way and started dominating the flight once again like in late 90s, and practically the first half of the 2000s.
Silicon Valley Golfers Link I is just another two shot down to stay at third spot, while perennial contender Team Surigao I of Rep. Ace Barbers is another three shot down.
At the Baguio Country Club, Benlife – Producers Bank I and Phil. Navy Sunrisers start what could be a promising fight out in Am A as both started with 100 points for a joint lead in said flight.
Ronald Kirby Lachica found the tough BCC course to his liking after making a two over for 34 points to lead Benlife which got 24 from Mark Anthony Rivera, 22 from Robert John Barreto and 20 from Adrian Cornejo.
The Navymen scored in the 20s with Noel Beleran leading at 27, Mario Pagunsan had a 25, while Jaime Beech and Francisco Beech added a pair of 24s.
Greenwater Golfers, former John Hay workers now in the United States, is at third spot at 91 with brothers Gary and Douglas Puckett leading with 27 and 24 points, respectively.
By Dexter A. See
