Chiu-Espinoza paces View golfest

CEBU, Philippines -The tandem of Jack Chiu and Dominic Espinoza had the best opening round in The View Invitational 2011 shooting nine-under-par 81 points at the rolling Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.

Chiu fired 40 points while the 16-year-old Espinoza made 41 to post a four-point lead in the member-guest tournament using the Modified Stableford Scoring System as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

Running second is the team of Enrico Solon and Clifford Celdran with 77 points.Solon scored 41 points while Celdran had 36.

The scoring format awards six points for a double-eagle, five for an ace, four for eagle, three for birdie, two for par, and one for bogey.Participants can only use three-fourths of their lowest handicap in the last three months.

At third is the tandem of club treasurer Ramon Sebastian and Jerry de la Rama with 75 points.Sebastian fired 37 while de la Rama had 38.

The last team to break par was that of Chandran Rama and Allan Tuck with 73 points.Rama fired 36 points while Tuck made 37.

Running fifth is the tandem of Rolando Alberto (32) and Wenceslao Romero (39) with 71 points.

Shooting 70 points apiece were the teams of Marlo Cugtas (33) and Jose Mari Dizon (37) and Tito Pintor (32) and Sim Guinocor (38).

Henry Dy scored a hole-in-one on hole number 2 last Thursday, which was so far the only ace scored in the tournament.He won a motorcycle from Norkis Trading as well as first bet coupons worth P300,000 from Pagcor-Cebu and P100,000 worth from Pagcor-Mactan.

Other hole-in-one prizes are a Kia Picanto from Gateway Motors (Kia) Cebu, a Club Car golf cart, a residential lot from Sta. Lucia Realty, a trip from Marist Royal Holidays Travel and Tours, and hotel gift certificates from Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

At stake for an eagle on all par-4 holes is a Skygo motorcycle.

The diamond sponsors of the tournament are Stradcom Corp. and Imperial Palace Hotel Resort and Spa.

Ruby sponsors are Stocks R’ Us, Taiyo Yuden (Phils.) Inc., and Rollway Freights and Shipping Agencies Corp.

The tournament is the club’s annual member-guest event.The awards ceremony will be held tomorrow night at the AVGCC ballroom.

Prizes will go to the teams with the overall best net and gross scores.

There will also be prizes for teams that would have the top three best scores for the three handicap classes and the seniors’ class.

Close to 400 players are seeing action in the event chaired by club director Vicente ‘Inting’ Go. (FREEMAN)