VISITING golfers Jacob Rolida, Joaquin Andres Gomez and Carl Corpus all fired an even par-72 to share the lead after Day 1 of the qualifying rounds of the 4th MVPSF Visayas Regional Matchplay Championship at the Cebu Country Club (CCC) in Brgy. Kasambagan, Cebu City on Monday, April 8.
Gomez birdied the par-4 hole No. 18 following a birdie in par-3 No. 15 to make up for the bogeys in Nos. 11 and 14 and caught up with the leaders Rolida and Corpus.
Last year’s third placer Corpus from Manila was actually leading with 35 at the turn together with Luigi Paolo Wong with two under-par 34. But Corpus lost the slim lead at the back where he scored 37.
Corpus hit a birdie in Nos. 5 and 7 before bogeys in Nos. 8 and 17.
Rolida of Cagayan de Oro City had the chance to finish with a better score, but a back-to-back bogey at the last two holes cost him the potential lead, enabling a three-way tie in the first day of the tournament organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NAGP).
Aidric Chan, Spain Harry Cabajar and Wong were in joint third place with one over-par 73 followed by 72nd PAL Interclub team champion member Harvey Sytiongsa and former runner-up and CCC caddie Rolando Pila with 74 each.
In the ladies division, Junia Louise Gabasa fired two over-par 74 to pace the women’s field. Gabasa recovered from a 39 front nine with 35 at the back to get the lead.
Gabasa birdied two of the last three holes to turn in a 74 and open a two-stroke lead over Grace Quintanilla, who was at second spot in the ladies division with 76.
Pamela Mariano scored 82 but still took third spot, while Kristine Fleetwood and Cleer Flores struggled with 90 and 95 but still stood well inside the cutoff line.
The final round of the two-day 36-hole qualifying round will continue today. The Top 16 after the qualifiers will advance to the next phase--the matchplay on April 10. (RSC)