BACOLOD CITY – Davao City’s Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) golf club is now taking the lead in the sportswriters division in the third round of the 32nd Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships being held in this city.
Playing valley terrain golf course at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club on Saturday, the RPV swingers took the driver seat submitting an aggregate 123 points for a 351 total after three days of tournament of the biggest club event in the country.
They edged past the two-day leader Villamor which managed to score 101 following the four-point deduction, for a total of 327.
Noe Taojo and Josue Teasado tied with 42 points leading the RPV to the top spot.
Eugenio Serado contributed 39 points while the 38 points of Randy Cadiongan were not counted on the four-to-play-three-to-count scoring format.
Taojo is leading the team for two consecutive days while Cadiongan led RPV during the opening day.
Veterans was led by Leon Bucago with 41 points, followed by Simeom Jumaquio with 32 and Ruben Baya with 28, while the 24 points of Tomas Henry Vargas were not included in the tally.
Taotaomona Guam is still in third with 323 points, Bacolod Golf is now in the fourth spot, and Iligan Golf and Country Club now takes the fifth place with 320 points.
Meanwhile, Canlubang primed itself for a tenth championship after seizing a seven-point lead over defending champion Luisita on Saturday.
No one broke 50 points on a day with Binitin’s course turning out to be a tough customer.
The Sugar Barons, however, salvaged 140 points behind the 48 of Dr. Pem Rosal.
Rosal, playing the Interclub for the first time after spending the last 30 years in the United States, did not make a single birdie, but managed to avoid the double bogeys that hurt most of the players.
With Abe Avena and Mari Hechanova adding 47 and 45, respectively, Canlubang posted 140 points that raised its total to 433 points.
Dave Hernandez, one of three Canlubang players who played Binitin twice, did not count with 44, his birdie-less round hurt by a pickup on the sixth hole.
After returning with 149 points Friday, Luisita slumped to 131 points, a score that raised doubts on its ability to defend its title.
Raffy Garcia, who had 50 points on Friday, struggled with 45.
Benjie Sumulong scored 44 and Chito Laureta rounded up scoring for Luisita with 42.
Edmund Yee, Luisita’s top scorer at Marapara Thursday earned 50, while having a forgettable 39.
Del Monte, the third team in the championship division, raked a total of 41 points after submitting 136.
Scoring for the Mindanao-based squad were Ramon Velez 48, Antonio Arancon, 44, and Erning Apas, 44.
The three teams return to Marapara on Sunday for the final round with both Canlubang and Luisita exuding confidence.
“It is not a safe lead, but it’s nice to carry that to Marapara,” said Canlubang mainstay Rolly Viray.
“No excuses. Our team played bad but fortunately, there’s one more day to go. I feel we have a stronger lineup tomorrow,” Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova said.
Eddie Bagtas will lead Luisita’s final round cast.
The others are Jingy Tuason, Rodel Mangulabnan and Benjie Sumulong. They will be up against Abe Rosal, Damasus Wong, Rolly Viray and Zaldy Villa.
The tournament is backed up by Primax Broadcasting, RMN and Fox, while major sponsors are BusinessWorld Publishing, Rolls Royce, TV5, Philippine Standard, Boeing, Under Armour, Eton Properties and Asia Brewery. (PNA)
