Acain, Seno seize lead at View

CEBU, Philippines - Ed Acain and Nilo Seno seized the provisional lead after the penultimate day of The View Invitational 2012 at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club with an aggregate of 159 points.

The duo fired rounds of 77 and 82 points in this two-man team event, which is also the club’s signature tournament.

Acain, who struggled on the first day with 32 points in the Modified Stableford Scoring System, shot 37 yesterday. Seno, a practicing lawyer, had two consistent rounds of 45 points.

At second spot in the battle for overall honors, but leading in the seniors’ class, is the tandem of tournament chairman Vicente ‘Inting’ Go and Col. Oscar Cornelio with a total of 158 points.

The team fired rounds of 77 and 81. Go shot 36 and 42 points while Cornelio had 41 and 39. Go and Cornelio are also the leading tandem for the seniors’ class.

To qualify for the seniors’ category, the total age of the team members must be 120 points.

The duo of Hospicio ‘Razy’ Razon and Romeo ‘Boy’ Alegre dropped to third in the overall list as of press time yesterday afternoon with a total of 155 points on rounds of 81 and 74.

Around 200 players are set to play their second round today for this four-day, 36-hole event.

The tournament allows players to use three-fourths of their lowest handicap from the period of March to May.

At fourth overall is the duo of Ramontito Garcia and Iggy Clavecilla with 151 points. The team is also leading the race for the lowest gross honors with their total of 145 points.

The average handicap of the team is three strokes.

Jufil Sato and Fernando Mondares are on fifth spot with a total of 150 points on rounds of 73 and 77.

Only two more teams were able to break par.

Tito Pintor had rounds of 37 and 38 and his partner Sim Guinocor had 32 and 42 for a total of 149 points.

The last team as of press time to shoot better than par is the duo of Alvin Suarez (36-37) and Baltaire Balangauan (36-38) with a total of 147 points.

At stake for the tournament are specially-made trophies for the team with the lowest gross and lowest net and also the top three for classes A, B, C, and the seniors’ category.

Rounding up the top ten are the teams of Victor Gocela (41-40) and Gus Mata (33-30) with 144, Eddie Manzano (30-33) and Lino Mabatid (40-38) with 141, Enrico Solon (38-33) and Aris Mata (33-36) with 140, and Marlo Cugtas (37-32) and Jose Marie Dizon (33-38) with 140 points.

The awards ceremony will be held this 6 p.m. at the ballroom of AVGCC. (FREEMAN)