Phil. Navy bet leads boys' A

CEBU, Philippines - It is a bit crowded at the top of the leaderboard after the first day of the 7th Alta Vista Junior Golf Challenge yesterday.

Only five strokes separate the top seven players of the Boys Class A or 15 to 17 years old category.

Only the players for class A and class B (13-14) along with those of the Special Division (18-21) played yesterday. The rest of the field of this national event will start playing today.

Justin Quiban of the Philippine Navy Golf Club in Metro Manila holds the lead in class A with an opening round of two-over-par 74 strokes.

David Park of host Alta Vista Golf and Country Club is one stroke behind with 75 followed by Phil. Navy’s Chang Yo Sen with 76.

Gio Gandionco, one of the top bets of Alta Vista, fired 77 strokes yesterday and is tied for fourth with Francis Morilla of Del Monte.

They are followed by Phil. Navy’s Juan Jorge Catalan with 78 and his teammate RJ Tallud with 79.

Cebu Country Club’s Lloyd Jefferson Go, who is regarded as one of the tournament favorites limped home with an opening round of 83 strokes.

In the girls’ division, Del Monte’s Apple Fudolin set the pace with 82 strokes. She is trailed by Riviera’s Kwon Seo Yon with with 88 and Alta Vista’s Emy Lou Tan with 89.

Gen Nagai of Cebu Country Club paces the boys’ division of class B with his 74 yesterday.

Jelbert Gamolo of Del Monte is running second with 79 while Alta Vista’s Philip Hernandez is at third spot with 82 strokes.

In the distaff side, Ericka Lim of Alta Vista fired 82 strokes to set the pace. At second is Del Monte’s Pamela Mariano with 85 while Alyeska Yunam of the host club shot 89.

In the Special Division, Edsel Tan of Alta Vista set the pace with his 75 strokes followed by teammate Jon Jeffrey Carvajal with 85.

In the girls’ division, Jan Soleil Punzalan fired 94 strokes.

Hole-in-one prizes are at stake in the tournament courtesy of Colours Fotoshop and host Alta Vista.

Major backers of the tournament are Restoserve Marketing Corp. and Selecta.

Also supporting the tournament are the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, EGL Nation Printing, Julie’s Bakeshop, and Coca-Cola. Other backers are Pustanan Printers, Lim Tong Press, and Ta-1. (FREEMAN)