CCC stretches lead

MARKO Sarmiento led the charge for Cebu Country Club’s (CCC) solid second-day showing as the defending champion padded their lead in the Championship Division at the CCC course yesterday.

Mike T. Limpag

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CCC, which led by one after the first day, is now up by three after yesterday’s 130 points put the team to 250 points, three points clear of Del Monte, which scored 128 points yesterday for a two-day haul of 247.

Sarmineto had the best round for the Cebuanos, tallying 34 points while 10-year-veteran Jovi Neri, who was playing for the second straight day, submitted a 33, three points better than his day one score over at Mactan Island Golf and Country Club.

Eric Deen, a former club champion, also had 33 while newcomer Andre Borromeo had 30
points. Ramontito Garcia, who led CCC to the Founders Division title in the seniors tournament last week, had 29 points but it wasn’t counted.

Though a three-point lead isn’t safe, CCC is happy where they are now.

“We’re happy that we were able to get some strokes over them,” said CCC’s Bayani Garcia, who will play in the third round today. “Hopefully, we can widen the gap (today).”

Garcia, who scored 32 points in the opening day to lead CCC, will be joined by Borromeo, LJ Go, Carl Almario and Gen Nagai, who will see action for the first time today.

Nagai is playing in his second PAL interclub but last year, he delivered big time for CCC, scoring 34 and 35 points in the first two rounds.

“That’s the story of the tournament so far, every body starts slow, and finishes strong. (Today) we hope to start strong and finish strong,” said Garcia.

Del Monte, which cut CCC’s final-round lead to one point before losing by eight last year, was led by Laurence Cubillo and Reymond Jaravilla, who both had 33 points.

Magnao Arancon had 32, while Jets Sajulga had 30 points.

On the other hand, third placer Alabang turned heads yesterday with the solid performance of Filipino-German, Keanu Jahns, who had a tournament best 39 points.

Gabriel Manotoc and Jama Reyes had 31 and 30 points, while Miguel Shah had 28 for their 128 points to stay at third place, five points behind the leaders.

Another home team, Club Filipino, is also making its mark in the Sportswriters Division, jumping from fifth place to first after a solid 100 points over at the Mactan Island Golf Club.

Hospico Razon led Club Filipino with 27 points, while Fernando Mondares had 26. Jufil Sato and Baltaire Balanguan brought up the rear with 24 and 23 points for the team’s two-day haul of 199.

First day leader Zamboanga dropped to second with an 83 in the second day for 191 points, while Saranggani is third with 190 after an 87 in round two. Co-host Mactan, which opened with 102 points, stayed at fourth place with 186 points after scoring 84 on its homecourse.