Manila Southwoods is on the verge of collecting another Seniors Fil Championship title even as an Alpha Phi Omega looks to dethrone the team’s Am side with a round to go in the 72nd Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament Wednesday.
Junjun Plana could make this a reality for the Fil Champ group as he scored a two over 63 for 34 points at the difficult Baguio Country Club course to lead the Carmona, Cavite based squad to 109 and a three day aggregate of 357 and pad its lead by 11 over first round leader Luisita Golf and Country Club.
The anchor of the squad since it started playing in 1997 submitted four birdies against the same number of bogeys but picked up at the par hole 4 to lead the squad anew even as he also padded his lead over Benjie Sumulong in the individual race by six.
Theodore Pascual, Manfred Guangko and Raul Minoza came up with 26, 25 and 24 points, in that order to count for the team which was staring at a two point deficit after the first round until the Plana led 127 incursion in the second round that saw them lead by five.
Sumulong was backstopped by Danilo Cruz who shot an identical 28, while former pro Eddie Bagtas and Martin Ilagan chipped in 25 points for the Tarlac based squad and a three day total of 346.
Riviera sneaked past Mamala Bay for third spot as it scored 95 and 317 total. Mamala Bay, meanwhile, after the tournament best 40 points by Chris Howard managed a measly 80 for 304 points.
Meanwhile, Camp John Hay Hotels submitted a final round 85 for 367 points to win the Seniors Fil A by 16 points Wednesday in the 72nd Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.
Ramon Luis Garcia carded 27 points at the BCC course to lead the hoteliers with Shean Bedi making 22, 18 from Bong Mandapat and Jaime Borromeo to hold off six other teams. John Hay was never threatened during the four day event after leading by four in the first round which it upped to 11 on day two, both at the CJH course, before giving up four points when games resumed at the shorter but trickier BCC course for the last two rounds.
Hotel Bahia which carded 76 points and a four day aggregate of 351 points took second place and holds a 24 point advantage on third placed Robros – JV Golf Team 1 which closed with an 82 and 327 total..
Baguio Blue Bloods banked on its familiarity with the CJH fairways to assemble a tournament best 102 points for a 344 aggregate to win the Seniors Am A by 18 points.
Former Baguio mayor and congressman Mauricio Domogan was at his best scoring 28 points on the last day, while Romeo Aquino and Rudy Lockey chipped in 28 and 27 and former Mankayan, Benguet mayor Materno Luspian adding 21 points for the team which was staring at a nine point deficit on BIBAK NY/NJ IGolfers after two days.
Pradera Verde, which was tied with the eventual champion after two days, outscored the two day leader also at the CJH to tally 326 points to take second place, while the two day leader collapsed to third place. Padera Verde shot 85 and 90 points in the last two days against the 75 and 88 performances of the BIBAK team.
In Regular Fil G, Maharlika Roast Beef survived a charging Ismael CPA / Amigos to win by a mere four point at the BCC course.
Maharlika scored a closing round 52 for its four day aggregate of 247 which was four up on Ismael which closed with 67.
NBI Team 157 – Reg was a distant third with 217 after a closing round of 37.
In Am G, Vancouver Horizon Golf Association totally outclassed all its opponents to register a 33 point victory.
With its closing 70, the best in the flight, the Canadian based team finished with an aggregate 244 on earlier rounds of 59, 54 and 61.
First day leader Baguio Blue Bloods Eagles finished with 58 points and 211 total for second place, while Baguio City Golf Team had a 53 and 202 total for third place despite the hole in one of Ryan Tablac on day three.
Meanwhile, Richard Ballucanag of Team Na Koa of Hawaii registered the fourth hole in one Tuesday. The ace came after Jorge Segovia’s ace at the 149 yard 12th hole. Segovia used a Yamaha No. 5 iron and Titleist ProVi No. 1 ball for the rare feat. Pigeon Lobien
