Southwoods keeps Luisita at bay
MANILA, Philippines — Pro-bound Japanese Aguri Iwasaki flashed top form in tough conditions, scoring 37 points to power Manila Southwoods to a five-point lead over Luisita with a 122 at the start of the PAL Men’s Interclub at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod yesterday.
Iwasaki, priming up for his Asian Development Tour debut next month, took charge for the Carmona-based squad as top gun Yuto Katsuragawa struggled with 30 points marred by a closing bogey, turning in the lone under-par card (70) in stroke play for a team teeming with talent.
Josh Jorge shot 28 points while former pro Vince Lauron chipped in 27 markers in his Interclub return with Santino Laurel’s 21 points failing to count for Southwoods, whose five-peat bid in the Championship division last year was foiled by Cebu Country Club while playing in the Founders section.
“We’re happy with how things turned out, considering how tough the conditions were,” said Southwoods team official Jerome Delariarte. “It was very difficult out there and our players performed well enough to put the team in the lead.”
Luisita, meanwhile, drew 33 and 31 points from Luigi Guerrero and Dan Cruz, respectively, while Jondie Quibol added 28 markers and Ronel Tagaan scored 27 points for Luisita, which pooled a 117.
But the Tarlac-based team liked where it stood heading to Day 2 of the 72-hole championship.
“I think this is the first time that we’ve come within five points of Southwoods,” Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova said. “Considering that our top three players didn’t score that much, we’re OK with how (the first round) turned out.”
The Cebuanos groped for form over at Bacolod Golf Club in Binitin while still grouped in the Founders as Mark Dy and Jon Alvarez posted 31 points each, Marco Mendoza carded a 29 and Martin Mendoza put in 21 points for 112 points.
Del Monte trailed Southwoods by 16 points with a 106 at Binitin.
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