BAGUIO CITY — Manila Southwoods’ title defense in the Fil-Championship of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational started on a fiery note as its young guns turned in sub-par rounds on Wednesday at the Camp John Hay Golf Club.
Gab Manotoc and Carl Corpuz each scored three-under 66s worth 39 points apiece to lead the Southwoods’ scoring binge that enabled the reigning champions to open a 19-point lead after the opening round.
Jeff Jung accounted for 37 and Aidric Chan added 33 to round out Southwoods' opening salvo of 148 points in the premier team championship of a tournament billed as the biggest amateur golf event in the world in terms of size.
Forest Hills amassed 129 points behind the 39 of Rocky Co, 32 of jungolfer Edison Tabalin, 30 of Jose Rodelio Mangulabnan and 28 of Augusto Pacheco for second place, although far off the scorching pace set by Southwoods.
Januarius Golf Team emerged a surprise third with 121 points. Terence Macatangay spearheaded the attack with 35 markers. Other scorers were Kirby Lachica 33, Ray Sangil 31 and RJ Rizada 22.
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SPES Team 1 (116), Time Cargo Logistics 1 (110) and X1R-TipsyPig-Mizuno (107) round out the teams in the premier division.
Manila Southwoods’ second unit also got off to a strong start in the Am Division, where it turned in 119, way ahead of Royal Northwoods (103) and Riviera-Batangas Barakos (95).
Time Cargo Logistics Team-2 maintained leadership following a 92-point performance at the Baguio Country Club course although its lead was sliced to two by a surging Forest Hills in the Am-A division.
Joseph Tambunting starred for Time Cargo with 26 markers. Renie Floro and David Guangko produced 23 and 22, respectively, while Rusty Bayani added 21 that hiked the team’s two-day output to 182 points.
Forest Hills, led by the 29 of its general manager Raymond Bunquin, came through with its second consecutive 96 to grab second place with 180. Ronnie Littaua had 27, Edgar Lee made 24 and JB Gosiaco contributed 16.
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