Thursday, December 04, 2008 Sherwood, Forest Hills take early lead
SHERWOOD Hills Golf Club earned a nine-point advantage against Camp Aguinaldo in flight A Am Division while Forest Hills Nicklaus took a one-point lead against Golden Oats in Fil A during the regular 59th Fil-Am Golf Invitational at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay fairways.
Herminio Maravilla fired 32 to lead Sherwood, as Freddie Mendoza added 28 while Jayson So and Jimmy Borromeo chipped in 26 and 24, respectively, to place the team's day total of 110.
Peter Young fired 34 points - two over 71 in regulation - to pace the team's 125 points in the five to play, four to count tournament.
With the 32 of Ronnie Littaua and 30 and 29 points for Lino Magpantay and Il Hun Jeong, respectively, the team leads Golden Oats by just a point on the eve of the debut of The Country Club and some of the national team members.
Jim Tambongon led Golden Oats with 33 points.
Bong Sison, a hero in the seniors, last week carded a 32, while Mario Parinas and Poch Hernandez carded 31 and 28 points, respectively, to count for the team.
Team Che'lus banking on the one over 70 or 35 points of Louie Sunga is 11 shots back with 113, protecting a single point lead over Camp Aguinaldo.
Tony de La Cruz paced Camp Aguinaldo with a 29. Virgilio Wee added 26, Raul Gonzales added 22, and Antonio Jun Bautista had 22 for a day total of 101.
Forest Hills, on the other hand, is in far third firing 97 points lead by Alvin Buenaventura's 29, and Juan Miguel and Rodolfo Villa's 23 points apiece.
Home team Baguio Centennial II trails Forest Hills by six strokes from Rudy Lockey's 27, Joseph Bayquen Jr.'s 24, Jun Cabiles's 21, and Richard Solang's 19-point performance.
Team Batangas Barakos, on the other hand, is trailing the home team by one point after earning a day total of 90; while Camp John Hay Golf Club 1 scored 85, led by William Kim's 23 points to place sixth in the field of nine teams.
Meanwhile, The Country Club opens its bid for the premiere Fil Championship crown Thursday.
National team mainstays Ferdinand Aunzo and Rufino Bayron as well as former Manila Southwoods members Antonio Asistio and Anthony Fernando and former Hong Kong Open Champion Dante Becierra will tee off early at the 10th hole of the CJH course in a bid to win the centerpiece Fil Championship crown.
Many time Fil-Am champion Manila Southwoods will give a tough test against the Country Club in the Am Division of the Championship flight including Mizuno Golf Team composed of Bones Floro, John Garcia, and Joselito Arceo.
The Carmona, Cavite-based par busters will be composed of Erwin Vinluan, Wolen Superal, Jikjik Abdon, Chepe Dulay, and Tristan Tabanas.
Mizuno will be composed of Chu Chu Martinez who will play along with King Estimeier of Alabang golf. Other members are: Joselito Arceo, Rodel Mangaluban, and John Baron Garcia.
