Southwoods sustains charge, leads by 14
DAVAO CITY – Holder Manila Southwoods carried its hot performance at Apo Golf in the opener over to Rancho Palos Verdes, punching in another 136-point round to widen its lead against Canlubang to 14 halfway through the 70th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s Championship here yesterday.
Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa made a birdie on No. 1 against a bogey on No. 16 to match par worth 36 points in the PAL scoring system as Southwoods added three points to its overnight margin versus Canlubang posted at Apo Monday.
With Katsuragawa as spearhead, the Carmona-based golfers unleashed a balanced attack that saw Ira Alido and Liam Cully submit identical 34s and Jama Reyes and Adric Chan each carding 32 as they remained on track of their three-peat bid. Chan eventually didn’t count in its overall tally for the day.
Southwoods has assembled a total of 272 to stay ahead of Canlubang, which had a 258, while Del Monte pooled a 238 to seize third place from Luisita, who dropped to 232 in the fourteam Championship division.
“Fourteen ( points) is not a comfortable lead, especially against that team,” Southwoods non- playing skipper Thirdy Escano said of their rival, Canlubang.
After an opening 125 at Apo, Canlubang cranked it up at Palos and improved to 133 behind the eagle-aided round of Gido Mandanas but still fell short of its bid to gain on the three-peat-seeking pacesetter.
Mandanas eagled the par- 5 No. 8 to offset a double-bogey on No. 7 and had three other birdies against three bogeys to finish at even 72 and 36 points as Carlo Villaroman (34), Rupert Zaragoza (33) and Marco Olives (30) did their share in scoring. Bambam Santos Santiago’s 24 failed to count.
“Anything can still happen with Canlubang breathing behind your neck,” Escano said, hinting he might tinker with the lineup for today’s third round, also in Palos Verdes, to prepare for the final day back at Apo.
“Fielding in the final two days will still be of utmost importance, that’s where their ( Canlubang) coaching experience comes in and we have to be ready.”
With Jelbert Gamolo shooting a sizzling twounder 70 worth 38 points, Del Monte leapt one place to No. 3 after its second-round 137.
Gamolo gunned down three birdies from Nos. 15-18 to finish with the only sub-par score in the premier division so far. Julius Bautista (32), Arsenio Mondilla (30) and Arnido Callo (27) also scored for Del Monte.
Luisita continued to struggle and managed a 117 – a slight improvement from its 115 the other day – to fall to fourth.
Veteran Jingy Tuason, playing for the second straight round, led the Tarlac-based parbusters with 32 as Dan Cruz (31), Maynard Ko (30) and Guilbert Purcia IV (24) contributed their share.
Meanwhile, Orchard maintained leadership in Founders division after a 116 yesterday at Apo. Four points behind Orchard’s 239 tally was defending champ Cebu Country Club, which soared to No. 2 after a 122 effort.
Scores after 2 rounds: Championship Manila Southwoods 272 (136-136), Canlubang 258 (125-133), Del Monte 238 (111-127), Luisita 232 (115-117) Founders Orchard 239 ( 123- 116), Cebu 235 (113-122), Riviera 233 (116-117), Forest Hills 232 (117-115), Apo 232 (112-120), Valley 225 (107-118), Villamor 225 (120105), Tagaytay 222 (117-105), Wack Wack 217 (120-97), Pueblo de Oro 216 (106110), Rancho Palos Verdes 208 (105103), Negros Occidental 207 (103-104), Social Redhawk 201 (103-98), Alabang 198 (100-98)