BAGUIO CITY – Yuto Katsuragawa scored the first sub-par performance at the Baguio Country Club as Manila Southwoods start to pull away in the Fil-Championships even as their Am counterparts has practically wrapped up the title at the John Hay course as the premiere flights take a break tomorrow, Dec. 8, in the 67th Fil-Am Golf Tournament presented by San Miguel.
The Southwoods club champion played a near flawless game except the bogey on the last hole but he started his second day with a rare eagle on the most difficult hole in the tournament, the dangerous 11th then six holes later made his first birdie.
On the front nine, Katsuragawa drained his second shot on the par 4 sixth as he went four under but the bogey in the ninth as he settled for the three under that is good for 39 points to give
Southwoods a 137 and a 268 total for a 19 point lead on Royal Northwoods.
Aidric Chan made 34, Kristoffer Arevalo had 33, while Carl Corpus and Ira Alido chipped in 31, one of which did not count in the five to play four to count format.
Northwoods improved to a 128 on pair of 33s of Richnell Albano and Luis Castro, Richard Joson came in with 32 and Carlo Gatmaytan holed out with 30 for the team’s two day total of 249 as the premiere flights take a break and games to resume on Friday and Saturday at the other course.
Defending champion San Miguel – Northern Cement, meanwhile, moved up the leaderboard but is way off the leader with its 122 and 239 total. Jelbert Gamolo led with 32, Gabby Manotoc had 31, while Aniceto Mandanas and Meynard Ko added 30 and 29 to count for the team which saw former pro Eddie Bagtas out with his 25.
Mizuno Ecoverde made 123 points for its 236 total and overtake a Srixon Forest Hills that missed its top player on day two for fourth spot. With only four players sans the country’s finest young amateur, Forest Hills limped home with 107 and 230 total, seven shots off Mizuno.
Zaragosa was down with a stomach virus that saw him retching at the fairways on day one but still managed to come out with the second best score of 34. But on day two, the pint sized player could not make it to the fairway, said BCC spokesperson Andrew Pinero.
This as Lanz Uy started his quest wearing his new Manila Southwoods jersey as he scored a two under 67 for 38 points at John Hay to power the team an even par 144 tally for 294 two day aggregate that simply blew the field away in the Am Championship of
Uy, a member of last year’s San Miguel that slipped past Southwoods for the title, made four birdies against two bogeys to pace the team. The Carmona, Cavite based team got a pair of 36 from Liam Cully and the 14-year old Joo Hyung Kim as the rampaging Southwoods Am team blended youth and age to perfection that saw them lead the field by 65 points only halfway into the tournament.
Junjun Plana, who 30 years or so ago was a child talent, chipped in 34 points in the five to play, four to count tournament. Southwoods’ fifth man, Jose Emmanuel Sajulga, got a “low” 31 after opening with the tournament best of three under for 39 points.
Southwoods opened with a 36 shot lead after firing a combined six under for 150 on first day jumpstarting what could be the dominating bid in the annual competitions.
Not since Tony Lascuna and Richard Sinfuego in 1994 has the Fil-Am seen a team so dominating as the two led Canlubang to its seventh and last title with a 14 under total or a 590.
“We just stuck to my game plan and the boys delivered. It was very unfortunate for Forest that Rupert got sick,” said Southwoods captain Thirdy Escano.
“I just constantly remind my boys never to be complacent and motivate them on a good incentive program. Rest assured the biys will play with the same intensity going into Friday’s and Saturday’s game,” added Escano, whose Team Sparta which is lodged at sixth spot in the Am Championship.
And Escano is very happy especially with the performance of Katsuragawa who made a three under which was spiked by an eagle on the 11th, the most difficult. “I’m just very happy with how all the boys are playing, their performance just says our Southwoods program is on the right track,” he said.
Gary Sales shot 33 points to give Batangas Barakos a 115 for 229 points to wrest second spot and six up on Mizuno Ecoverde which made 116 and 223. Another two shot down is Razon of Guagua after a 109 and 221.
Forest Hills was penalized by two anew for a 105 and 216 as the team slipped to sixth spot from third.
Meanwhile, Team Surigao had 100 points for 205 as Silicon Valley drew close with its 104 203 total. Summit Point Elite moved down to third spot after 95 for 196.
Green Meadows came in with 95 points as its three point lead grew to 13 overnight on Ventureslink Robros Jayworkx, Green Meadows has 187 points total while Ventureslink now has 174 points which is three up on Baguio Country Club.
Mamala Bay may have simmered down with a 91 for 195 but its five shot lead has grown to 11 over Rural Banks I which made 85 for 184. Team Surigao occupies the third slot with its 180 after an 86.
Isabela Golf Club Builders may have lost a two point lead penalty but still maintains a six point lead over Hawaii Five O Plus. Isabela has 143 points after a 72 against the Hawaiians’ 137 which is one up on DBGC (70=136).
By Dexter A. See