Solid start gives Luisita 8-pt edge over Canlubang

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Eddie Bagtas leaned on his power to fire 54 points as defending champion Luisita pooled a 137 to open an eight-point lead over arch rival Canlubang at the start of the Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors golf team tournament here yesterday.

Rudy Amata backed Bagtas with 43 points while Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia chipped in 40 markers at the relatively flat Mactan Golf Club. Roxas Chua Severino carded 39 points but didn’t count in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event of the country’s premier team championship.

Canlubang sorely missed the services of national seniors champion Abe Avena and settled for 129 points as Jose Mari Hechanova and Dave Hernandez shot identical 44s and Bing Bunye tossed in 41 points. Renato Unson’s 40 failed to count.

Cebu Country Club stood three points behind Canlubang with a 126 while Orchard assembled a 117.

Bagtas, a former pro, birdied all but one of the four par-5 holes and added two more to offset a double bogey and three bogeys.

He dropped two shots at the par-4, 13th when he missed the green and three putted.

“Mahirap ‘yung course. Sinuwerte lang tayo (The course was tough and we just got lucky),” said Bagtas whose score was 10 points better than the next best player at Mactan.

Bagtas said he hopes to win the individual trophy after failing to snare it last year in Bacolod.

Hernandez, one of Canlubang’s top gunners, made only one birdie against seven bogeys and a pair of double bogeys.

Hechanova, on the other hand, had four double bogeys and six bogeys against four birdies.

Over at Club Filipino de Cebu, Eagle Ridge and Pueblo de Oro each fired 133 points to share the lead in the Founders’ division with Luisita four behind at 129.

Korean An Youn Hwan led Eagle Ridge with 48 points followed by compatriot Lee Tongwa with 44 and Ryoo Si Kun 41.

Scoring for Pueblo de Oro were Clifford Celdran 51, Jeun Yang 42 and Rolando Uy 40.

John Hay and Coral Ocean Point Saipan shared third with 129s.

In other divisions, Del Monte led Sportswriters with 108 while Guam Seals paced Friendship with 108.

Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the twin events. Other backers include Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.

The results:

Championship – Luisita 137, Canlubang 129, Cebu Country Club 126, Orchard 117, Alta Vista 117, Manila Golf 114, Socal Redhawk 106, Victorias 99, SF Crystal Spring 93, Fil-Am Fairfield 91, Club Filipino de Cebu 89, PGAQ 59, Socal Redhawk 36

Founders – Eagle Ridge 133, Pueblo de Oro 133, Coral Ocean Point Saipan 129, Camp John Hay 129, Negros Occidental 125, Valley 124, Mactan Island 124, Camp Evangelista 122, Manila Southwoods 121, Rancho Palos Verdes 118, Navy 117, Riviera 116, Villamor 115, Wack Wack 115, Apo 114, Fil-Am Hawaii 111, Maharlika 103, Davao City Golf 99, Lanang 76, Bay City Golf Club Alameda 75

Sportswriters – Del Monte Seniors 108, Mabuhay Golf Club of San Francisco 101, Taotao Muna 99, Club 1872 Los Angeles 99, Bacolod Golf 98, Zamboanga 96, Cotabato 93, Forest Hills 91, San Juanico 90, Iligan 89, UP Tee Jots 88, Iloilo Golf 87, MSU Golf 86, South Cotabato 85, PGA British Columbia 84, Travelers Golf Club of San Francisco 84, South Bay Golf 84, Baguio Country Club 83, Sarangani Golf 82, Brookside 82, Dil-Am (SFO) 81, Guinhalaran Golf 81, Austral Asian Golf Melbourne 79, Vancity Golf 76, Lumbia Golf 66, Sienna Plantation 66, Bay Area Golf 62, Phil Am Golf of Central Florida 59, Paoay Golf 55, Tri City Golf 32

Friendship –  Guam Seals 108, Pinoy Vancouver Golf Club 96, Mt. Malindang 87, Canphil Golf Association 83, Moffet Field 82, Brotherhood Sharp 81, Leyte Golf 80,  Bennet Valley 76, Fil Oz Sydney 76, West Covina Warrior 76, Parbreakers Golf of British Columbia Canada 71, SF Penunsala Int’l 68, Greater Vancouver Association 68, Skywest Seniors 67, Guam Seniors 66, Pittsburg Fil-Am Seniors 65, Winners Circle Golf 59, Sand Baggers of Vancouver 46, SF Alliance 33