BAGUIO CITY December 04 – Manila Southwoods and San Miguel – Northern Cement go for broke tomorrow, Dec. 5, where they dispute the top honors as they go back to the start with the score tied at 395 on day three of the 66th Fil-Am Golf Invitational presented by San Miguel Corporation.
Rupert Zaragoza, frustrated the first two years here, showed why he is the most dreaded player here as he made a six under 63 for 42 points to pace San Miguel’s charge to the lead. The challenger came out smoking with the tournament best 143, a one over, to draw tied with defending champion Southwoods which fired 140 and the same total.
Zaragoza, who lost by a shot to Justin Quiban of Southwoods last year in the individual race, made two eagles and four birdies against two bogeys for the nearly flawless round. This as the rested Eddie Bagtas came in with 39, Jelbert Gamolo made 32 and JP de Claro had a 30 to count for San Miguel. Lanz Uy did not count with his 24.
Southwoods, on the other hand, had a two under 38 from Yuto Katsuragawa, a 37 from Chepe Dulay, a 35 from Quiban and 30 from Ryan Monsalve and Kristoffer Arevalo one of which did not count in the five to play four to count tournament backed also by Toyota.
Royal Northwoods had 39 from Jobim Carlos for 136 and a 377 total to pad its lead to three over the young Luisita’s squad which got 38 from Weiwei Gao and 134 total.
“It’s anybody’s game,” said San Miguel team captain Bobby Iñigo who credited the surge on the two day rest of its most veteran player Bagtas.
Bagtas did not play at the BCC course where he fared miserably during the seniors competition. He is much used to the longer fairways of John Hay where he vowed to do better this time as San Miguel vowed to make better this time after a third place finish last year, light years away from Southwoods.
“Magandang laban eto,” said Southwoods captain Thirdy Escaño who added that the all the boys have the spirit and the confidence to play better tomorrow after the good round today.
“All players will play better tomorrow,” vowed Iñigo, in what could be the best finale in the Fil-Am in years with all the best players seeing action in the biggest amateur golf tournament in the country.
Southwoods Am Championship team widened its lead over Batangas Barakos as play shifted at the BCC course. Teener Ira Alido scored 31, Jun Plana accounted 30, while Ivan Monsalve and Theody Pascual chipped in 27 and 24, respectively for the team’s 112 and 378 three day aggregate.
Batangas made 107 and its four shot deficit increased to nine with its 269 total. Gerald Katigbak had 30 for the Barakos, Gary Sales, who was three under leading to the BCC, made 28, while Ricky delos Santos and Michael Mendoza added 25 and 24, respectively, for the team.
Valley/Razon of Guagua made 93 and 334 total to stay at third spot, seven off Mizuno Ecoverde.
BCC outshut CJH on the last day of competition as it assembled a flight best of 117 for 433 and sneak past the latter for a four shot win in Fil-B. Goodie Ignacio led the charge with 31, Bong Mandapat and Jjef Razon shot a pair of 29s, while Euls Austin to overtake the three day leader which only made 99 and 429.
Che’lus I made 103 for a 420 total to finish third.
Camp Aguinaldo got 28 from Antonio Bautista and 26, 20 and 15 from Martin Jickain, Alfred del Carmen and Iñigo Bilbao for a closing round of 89 for 396 and a 42 point win over Subic Gas in Am B. Team Monterey third place with a 92 and 345.
Team Surigao closed with an 81 for 320 and a nine shot victory in Fil-E. Fil-Am Seattle finished with 74 and 311 tally to get second place, while Team Surigao Repsol was third after a 76 and 285.
Uragun Golf A had 59 and 258 total to win the Am-E title over Che’lus I which shot 54 and 268 total, two up on third placer Uragun Golf B (70=260).
