Bunyi-Mendoza wrests NGAP Doubles lead

MANILA, Philippines - Gino Bunyi and Marvin Mendoza came out a bit better than Ricky delos Santos and Ricky Velasco in foursomes that kicked off the inaugural NGAP National Doubles Amateur Championships yesterday, combining for a four-over 72 for a one-shot lead at the AFP Golf Club.

Bunyi and Mendoza birdied the last hole to make up for a double-bogey mishap on No. 16 and save a 37-35 card as they held off the rallying Delos Santos-Velasco pair for the early lead in the 54-hole tournament conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Delos Santos and Velasco rebounded from an opening 40 with a 33 to salvage a 73 while three teams, including the Jobim Carlos-Raymundo Gonzales tandem, stood at 74 heading to today’s four-balls (best-ball) format in the event presented by Globe, AirPhil Express and Pancake House.

Carlos and Gonzales never recovered from a bogey-double bogey start and hobbled with a 39-35 card although they remained in contention in the centerpiece Group I division along with the Joey Huerva-Lawrence Celestino and the Eric Gallardo-JP De Claro pairs at 74.

Aristeo Mata and Agustin Mata holed out with a 37 for a 76 as they tied the John Tambogon-Rudy Amata tandem at sixth while Tommy Manotoc and RJ Talud strung up nines of 38-39 for a three-way tie with Gabriel Manotoc-Art Arbole and Rupert Zaragosa-Justin Quilban tandems in the tournament backed by Golf Depot, Callaway, Odyssey, Pacsports, Autohub, Empire Golf, Dynamic Sports and Titleist, the official ball.

In Group II, Larry Patnongon and Joey Solis carded a 74 to likewise post a one-stroke lead over Lans Uy and Paolo Uy while Justin Tan and RJ Tan stood five shots off the pace with a 79.

Kevin Saclot and Kristoffer Arevalo shot an 83 while Richard Tan and Lino Magpantay had an 84 followed by Caloy Coscolluela and Bobby Iñigo (86), Adrian Romero and Raymart Tolentino (87), Carlo Packing and Carlos Packing (95) and Carlo Villaroman and Quito Diaz (100).

Sam Martinez and Chanelle Avaricio, on the other hand, turned in a 77 to gain a three-shot lead over Bianca Pagdanganan and Pauline del Rosario in the ladies side of the event featuring members of the national pool and the top campaigners from the country’s leading clubs.

Daniella Uy and Marvi Monsalve struggled in the alternate shot format with an 85 but are expected to bounce back in the best ball and the combined aggregate in the final round tomorrow.