Brand-new teams set pace in pro-am

SILANG, Cavite — Ruel Banares and Marvin Dumandan and Gerard Cantada and J. R. Tanpinco celebrated their first team-ups with 74s yesterday to tie for the opening day lead in the U-Bix-Riviera National Pro-Am golf championship here.

Both teams were able to cope best with tough pin placements and strong wind that came early in the day to take a one-stroke lead in the P1.2-million tournament.

Richard Sinfuego and Bobby Iñigo came up with an eagle-aided 75 at the Riviera Golf and Country Club’s par 71 Langer course and Jorge Abad and Michael Bibat matched that to tie for third.

Noli Kempis, who came all the way from Dhubai, and Erwin Vinluan combined for 76 to stay on course in their campaign for a second championship in three years.

"This is a good start," said Cantada, who turned pro three years ago after a colorful amateur career. "JR and I were consistent out there. I hope we will keep it up for the next three days."

"We played as a team," said Banares, who lost to Neil Catalan in the 1997 Uratex National Caddies Championship.

Banares made a 24-footer on No. 7 then canned a couple eight-footers on the 10th and 15th holes for birdies then Dumandan capped their round with a 24-footer on 18.

"This is a good start but there are still 54 holes to go with other strong teams behind us," Banares and Dumandan said.

Caloy Nival and Jun Bernis shot a 77 to share sixth place with Chucho Martinez and Riviera president Danny Pizarro and Park Seong Mo and Leong Seong Ki of South Korea.

Rookie professional Jun Cedo and Omar Dungca and South Koreans Ryu Dae Hyung and Chang Hoi Kim came up with 78s to tie for the next slot.

Raul Miñoza and younger brother Paul started the defense of the crown with a 79. Also on that level were the tandems of Ray Pagunsan and Col. Rico Javier, Marlon Dizon and Bones Floro and Sonny Almazan and Gino Bunye.

Rodrigo Cuello and Mike Medado came up with a net 63 to emerge the first big winners in this year’s annual championship.

Cuello and his amateur partner toured the Langer course with a 79 then relied on their combined handicap of 11 to rule the team event in the Celebrity Pro-am Invitational.