Cangolf bet sizzles with 68, leads by 3 shots

Humbled by a gutsy Southwoods’ mainstay in the first round, the Cangolf bets fought back to defend their turf with Jay Bayron sizzling with a four-under par 68 yesterday and wresting a three-shot lead halfway through the fourth Canlubang Amateur Open Golf Championships in Laguna.

With overnight leader Michael Bibat floundering with a two-over 74 at the south course of the Canlubang golf complex, Bayron took over with a 36-hole aggregate of 138, counting his 70 in the first round of this annual event staged by the host club as part of its continuing effort to provide the country’s amateurs a venue to hone their skills and talents.

Gene Bondoc shot a 70 for a 141 as he took the challenger’s role from teammate Bibat, who stunned the field with a 68 Tuesday but slid to third with a 142 after that 74.

Fancied national player Juvic Pagunsan, also the spearhead of Cangolf’s bid in various inter-club tournaments, started to get his game going after opening with a one-over 73 as he fired a 70 to be at 143, just five strokes off the pace.

The 25-year-old Pagunsan was joined in later in fourth place by unfancied Kim Chang Hoi, the Royal Northwoods’ bet who shot the day’s second best score of 69 in windy condition in one of the country’s tough championship courses.

Dave Hernandez stood at 145 after a 71, the same score turned in by JR Tanpinco who had a 146 followed by the troika of Jun Bernis (74), Boyet Saragoza (76) and Jong Laput, the Forest Hills entry who fired a 70 in the first round but slipped to joint eighth at 147 after a 77.

Another club bet, Lina de Guzman, virtually clinched the ladies diadem with one round left as she added a 68 to her 67 for a 135 and a big 18-stroke lead over Anya Tanpinco, who had a 77 and a 153.

Remijin Camping and Lucy Landicho, also of Canlubang, joined Tanpinco in second by shooting 75 and 74, respectively, while Park Soo Mi stood at 156 after a 79 in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by SEAMECOR, Schering Plough Corp., DOTC Secretary Gen. Leandro Mendoza, Robert Bosch, Inc., Century Park Hotel, Raoul Jorge and Darly de Roca.

Meanwhile, the handicap 36-hole competitions for men and women start today with the gross, net, first and second runners-up honors staked in classes A, B, C and D.