North stuns South in rain-hit opener

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que and Mars Pucay swept their two matches to power Team North to a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead over Team South in the lightning-halted first day of The Duel – North vs South golf showdown at the Alabang Country Club yesterday.

North leaned on its near-flawless stint in the four-ball to shock South, 3 1/2-1/2 then held its ground in the foursomes, 2-2, to seize control of the local pro golf’s version of the Ryder Cup.

Teener Miguel Tabuena and Carl Santos-Ocampo came away with a shock 3&2 victory over the fancied pair of Elmer Salvador and Tony Lascuna to spark Team North’s stirring victory in the morning best-ball event.

Benjie Magada and Randy Garalde trounced Jhonnel Ababa and Rufino Bayron via the same score, 3&2, while Que and Pucay edged Marvin Dumandan and Cassius Casas, 1-up, to highlight North’s domination of the event put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Gerald Rosales and Artemio Murakami fought back from two holes down by winning two of the last nine holes to salvage an all-square game with Team South’s Jay Bayron and Ferdie Aunzo.

“It’s a dream start for us,” said Team North skipper Cookie La’O. “Our plan was to get it close, what we got was otherwise. We hope to sustain this until Friday.”

“We just got unlucky in the morning matches,” rued South team captain Charles Hong.

Que and Pucay then came out of a 30-minute delay due to lightning to cap their brilliant stint with the former sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th to clinch a 1-up win over Salvador and Elmer Saban in the alternate shot format while Jun Bernis and Michael Bibat preserved North’s lead with a 2&1 win over Mhark Fernando and Anthony Fernando.

Lascuna, with Richard Sinfuego, nipped Joenard Rates and Gene Bondoc, 1-up, while Jay Bayron and Aunzo stopped Tabuena and Santos-Ocampo, 3&2, for a 2-2 draw.