BAGUIO ,Philippines – Fred Puckett bucked a sore back and scored 36 points as he powered defending champion Camp John Hay pooled a 118 and posted a 14-point lead over Maxima Komatsu in the 62nd Fil-Am Invitational golf tournament at the Baguio Country Club course here yesterday.Puckett hit five birdies to negate back-to-back bogeys from No. 10, highlighting his big comeback with a 20-foot birdie-putt on No. 9 to post the event’s first even-par 61.
“My back really ached so I have to control my drive, which were a little wild. But my putting and chipping clicked,” said Puckett.
Rudy Lockey backed him up with 30 points while Bong Mandapat and Park Jong Won carded identical 26 points while Clyde Cabreros didn’t count with a 24 in the five-to-play, four-to-count format event sponsored by Toyota, Pacsports, Illy, Empire and Wilson.
The 118 gave them a 36-hole haul of 218 for a 14-point lead over Maxima Komatsu in the Seniors Fil Championship.
Maxima Komatsu tallied 106 for a 204 as Bong Sison fired 32 points, Florene delos Santos and Poch Hernandez each had 26, and either Dennis Cabalfin and Freddie Mendoza counted with 22 points.
The event takes a break today with action resuming tomorrow at Camp John Hay course.
“We are actually in a good place as we go to our home course where we are familiar with the course and the greens,” said skipper Cabreros.
Aguinaldo assembled a 97 for 189 as it surged to an 18-point lead over Baguio Golf which had a 171 after an 84. Cordillera Early Birds had an 84 for 158 in the tournament supported by Fashion Rack, Air 21, Rizgolf, Supreme Bike, GPS Tracker, Golforce, San Miguel, Le Chef, Camp John Hay Development Corp., Beaufort and Bayan Business.
Savers ComClark had an 86 for a 193 as it posted a 24-point lead over Summer Capital-North, which had an 83 for a 169. Baguio Ventures is in third with a 167 after an 88.
Summer Capital-East fired 62 points for 127 as it took a one-point over J2C, which had a 63 for a 126. Isabela Golf Club-Roxas scored 59 points for 122.
Isabela GC-Cauayan had 94 points for 169 as it grabbed the lead over Square and Compass Nueva Ecija 3, which had a 76 and 153. J.J. Golf Team made a 65 for third at 137.
In Am F, the Mountaineers golf team scored 86 points for a 176 and a whopping 24-point lead.
Kalinga Vice Gov. Sonny Mangaoang had a 29, former Tabuk mayor Camilo Lammawin scored a 22, Rainier Sarol chipped in 18 while Gigi Jayme added 17 points.