S’woods hikes lead to 23
BACOLOD CITY – The Manila Southwoods’ train continued on its highspeed run in the 71st Philippine Airlines Interclub golf tournament, gaining an even wider gap on its pursuers. Hardly easing up after their opening 140 points at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, the Southwoods aces led by flawless Kristoffer Arevalo, punched in a follow-up 139 at the tight Binitin layout over in Murcia town to go 23-up on rival Luisita with a 279 aggregate. Arevalo, winner of the 13-14 division of the 2013 Junior World Championship, sizzled with a bogey-free two-under par 68 for 38 points as Carl Corpus contributed 35 and Aidric Chan and Tom Kim added 33 each in a balanced assault under tough conditions. Luisita, bannered by Eddie Bagtas’ 34, duplicated its 128-point first-round effort to stay in second spot with 256 overall while Canlubang, riding on Jolo Magcalayo’s five-under 65 for the day’s best 41 markers, improved to 131 from its opening 119 for a 250 aggregate. Del Monte, with Romeo Jaraula’s leading 34, submitted 122 for a 232 aggregate at the halfway point of the tourney that rampaging Southwoods is threatening to turn into a oneteam show. With a commanding 23-point bulge, Southwoods has no plans of slowing down. “Although having that lead is a big advantage, nothing is ever sure in this game,” said Southwoods’ non-playing captain Thirdy Escano. “There’s a lot of talent out there and they can easily catch up.” Luisita, a band of veterans and youngsters that surprised pundits in Round One, maintained its solid outing to stay ahead of Cangolf in the chase for Southwoods. Benjie Sumulong matched Bagtas’ 34 while Sean Jean Ramos (31) and Jingy Tuason (29) also contributed in the five-to-play, four-to-score competition. Magcalayo, a national team mainstay, submitted a one-under at the back then fired five birdies against a lone bogey in the front nine to spark the Sugar Barons’ planned resurgence. But his pals couldn’t match Magcalayo’s hot round with Luis Castro carding 33 and Carlo Villaroman and Josef Perry Bucay norming 29 and 28, respectively.