Evangelista, Pueblo take charge

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon – Camp Evangelista combined for 221 points yesterday to take the temporary Friendship Division lead at the start of the 18th Philippine Inter-Club senior championship here yesterday.

Over in Cagayan de Oro City, local bets took full advantage of their familiarity with the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club to shoot an impressive 240 to pace the Founders’ division.

Riviera Golf and Country Club, thanks mainly to Commodore Danny Pizarro’s one over par effort, collected 238 to become Pueblo de Oro’s closest pursuer.

Pizarro’s 73 was worth 53 points in the PAL modified Stableford scoring system that gave him the early individual lead in the Founders division. "I was very consistent today," he said.

Heavy late afternoon downpour here scuttled the first round outing of the final two flights.

The tournament goes full blast today as Luisita Golf and Country Club, with rookie Francis Gaston joining forces with his elders, shoots for its sixth straight championship division trophy in the 36-hole event stretched over three days.

The sweet swingers from Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City will start its unprecedented campaign over at the Del Monte Golf and Country Club.

"With Francis in, we have a very strong team," said skipper Rudy Samson. Other members of the team are Iggy Clavecilla, Bong de Guzman, Richie Garcia, Alex Montelibano, King Sumulong and Lucia Yan.

"The teams to watch? By our assessment, the other teams capable of winning are Manila Golf and Wack Wack where former national team member Tommy Manotoc is also making his debut."

Also slated today at both venues are the team and individual contests in the Sportswriters division. All in all, a record 560 players from 70 teams from here and abroad are playing in the event.

Major sponsors are ABS-CBN Global, Airbus Industrie, CNN International, GE Aircraft Engines, Golden Nugget Hotel Las Vegas, Johnnie Walker, Manila Broadcasting Corp., Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International and UMBN.

The corporate backers are Joey 92.3, 96.3 WRock, PLDT and 105.1 Crossover while Asia Brewery Inc., Boeing, Boysen Pacific Paint, Century Park Hotel, INQ7.net, Jam 88.3, Tanduay Rhum and www.philstar.com as other supporters.