BAGUIO, Philippines– Seabridge-Che’lus pounced on Mizuno’s second round meltdown and assembled a 129 at Baguio Country Club yesterday to seize an eight-point lead going to the last two rounds of the Fil-Am Invitational golf tournament at Camp John Hay.
Mike Castro posted the first under par score at the par-61 BCC – a 60 worth 37 Stableford points while Louie Sunga scored a 33 and Daryl Poe and Ray Blas tossed in 31 and 28 points, respectively.
Counting its opening round of 125, Seabridge tallied a 254 and surged past Mizuno, which slowed down with a 118 after a 128, of the centerpiece Fil Championship field.
Mizuno dropped to second with a 246 as King Stehmeier struggled with 31 after a 36. Jung Soo Park also shot a 31 while Rodel Mangulabnan and Vince Lauron added 30 and 26 points, respectively.
“We had to score better before we move to John Hay,” said Castro, who hit five birdies against four bogeys at the short but challenging BCC. “It is not easy but we just have to maintain our play and be steady.”
Seabridge ran away with the Fil A crown last year, paving the way for the team’s stint in the Fil Championship flight.
Despite yielding the lead, the Mizuno Superstars remain confident of their chances heading to the longer CJH course.
“We have the same plan, keep hitting the fairway and the green,” said Stehmeier. “There is a fair chance that we can hit better tomorrow (today).”
Migo Ochoa had a one-over 62 for 35 points as he led Batangas Barakos’ 126 output for a 237 total for third.
Camp John Hay, meanwhile, had a pair of 33s from Jeff Razon and Kim Hwa Rang for a 125 and 235 aggregate as it moved up to fourth while Manila Southwoods tallied 118 for a 228 in tie with the erstwhile third ranked Baguio City Golf Team II.
In Fil A, Team Surigao got a pair of 34s from Roy Abalos and Ramon Capistrano while Ed Lopez and John Bertis added a 30 and 25, respectively, as it padded its lead to 27 points with a three-day haul of 346 after a 123.
Philippine Navy GC settled for a 106 for a 319 as Jaime Beech scored a 31, Carlos Packing made a 28, Rei Gil Medestamos added a 26, and Pedro Bandola Jr. chipped in a 21.
The tournament is backed by Toyota, which stakes a Vios for a hole-in-one feat on Nos. 10 and 18th at the BCC and CJH courses, respectively. Other supporters are Pacsports, Illy, Empire and Wilson.
Just three off is Darwin GC of Australia which got 28 from Peter Hargreaves for the team’s 107 and 316 total to catch up on Haciendas de Naga Golf Team which had a 29 from Bong Sison and 105.
With Eddie Castro and Warren Pelletier scoring 26 points each, Seabridge Che’lus II slowed down with 94 and 314 total to allow Tribu Grill Express to cut the lead by two.
Andrei Cornejo led Tribu Grill with 28 and 96 points for 306, eight off the three day leader.
But the biggest mover is third ranked AAV Ventureslink Golf Team which had a pair of 30s from Teddy Quizon and Eric Juadines for the flight best 112 points and 302 aggregate, which was also the biggest leap from tie for sixth and seventh on the first day. Crystal Dew-TGIS Davao also slowed down at the shorter BCC link as it tallied 86 and 293 total and allow co-host BCC to cut the lead to a single digit going into the final round.
Tournament committee member representing BCC Ely Lagman and Christian Bautista took the scoring cudgel as they helped the team to a 96 point production for their three-day total of 286, just six off the three-day leader. With the 24 of Jay Co and 20 of Charles Baguilat, the team looked poised to wrest the top plum on the last day.
Rural Bankers, meanwhile, improved to third spot after firing83 for 272 to take a six-shot lead on co-host CJH which wilted with 72 for a 266 total.
Isabela GC I got a 29 from Matthew Thin for the team’s 95 and 305 total to slowly pull away from the 12-team Am C.
Seabridge Che’lus had 92 for 292, while Ultra Flight GC I had an 88 for 287 and third spot.
It is also supported by Fashion Rack, Air 21, Rizgolf, Supreme Bike,GPS Tracker, Golforce, San Miguel, Le Chef, Camp John Hay Development Corporation, Beaufort and Bayan Business which gives a 32-inch television at the 16th and 6th at BCC and CJH, respectively.