Two tie for lead in national pro-am

SILANG, Cavite – Vince Lauron and Paul Salvador scored a 73 and Marlon Dizon and Bones Floro shot 74 yesterday to tie for the third-round lead in the U-Bix-Riviera National Pro-Am here.

Lauron, the former national standout, and Salvador started slowly with a 38 but came back with a 35 to score their best score in three days. They had earlier toured the Riviera Golf and Country Club’s Couples Course with 75 and 76 for 224.

Dizon, another national player who turned pro only this year, and Floro, the Wack WAck golf director, played the same way with a 39 then a 35 to go with this earlier rounds of 74 and 76.

The two teams start the final 18 today with a precarious one-stroke lead over Armando Eso and Amado Eso, who made a 74, and first-round leaders Eddie Bagtas and Kim Chung Hol, who shot 76.

It is expected to be a tight finish like last year’s inaugural since three other teams, including second-round leader Juanito Pagunsan and his son Juvic, are still in contention.

The Pagunsans came up with a 79 to be in fifth spot at 226, the Miñoza brothers Raul and Paul scored 75 to take the next slot at 227 and Rodolfo Cuello Jr. and Jenz Tecson were at 230 after a 76.

The seven teams were among the 31 who made the 54-hole cut in the event sponsored by U-Bix Corp. Konica, Caffe Appassionato, San Miguel Corp., PAGCOR, Mizuno, DHL, WWW Express and Philippine Sports Commission.

All in all, 105 teams competed in the tournament launched by U-Bix Corp. president Bert Bravo and Riviera GCC president Danny Pizarro to revive the Fort Bonifacio Pro Am.

"Our pros as well as our amateurs need this kind of tournament," Bravo said on the eve of the P1-million tournament. "We have to help them, especially the pros."

The old-and-young partnership of Caloy Nival and Jun Bernis came up with a 78 to be all alone in eighth place at 232.

Noli Kempis and Erwin Vinluan played their worst round of 79 after efforts of 73 and 78 and their chances of defending the title are a bit tough. At 233, they are nine shots behind the new leaders.

Roger Cabajar and Freddie Baligasa scored another 77 and Ruel Banares and Erik Escalona came up with a struggling 82 to tie Kempis and Vinluan.

At stake in the pro division are cash prizes totalling P800,000 while up for grabs in the amateur division are gift certificates worth P200,000.

The pro champion will receive P138,200 while his partner will get P34,560 in gift certificates.