Asian Games veteran and reigning national amateur champion Jerome Delariarte led the Southwoods squad’s assault with a two-under 67 for 38 points to power the four-peat seeking team to 293 card on a 144 second day total and a big edge over arch rival DHL Mizuno.
Teener Turo Nakajima, a former Japanese junior national champion, and Erwin Vinluan sustained the Southwoods charge with identical 36 points, even par on medal play, while national team player Gene Bondoc finally delivered with a 34. Juami Rocha’s 31 did not count.
DHL Mizuno’s top man Romeo Jaraula carded a one-over 70 for 35 points to lead DHL Mizuno anew, while the trio of Paul Miñoza, Jett Plete and Jojo Fernando made 34 points a piece. The team had 137 for 277 total in two days.
That gave CAP Southwoods a 16-point cushion going into the third round which is expected to be a thriller of an encounter between the two fancied teams over at the compact and hazard-laden Baguio Country Club course.
"It could be a good cushion because compared to John Hay, Baguio Country Club is a difficult course prone to bogeys and pickups and no lead is safe there," said Jeric Hechanova, Fil-Estate corporate golf director and Southwoods spokesman.
"It’s their home course. Tomorrow if we get some from them we can set up a fourth day finale," said Mizuno manager Benny Gopez.
DHL-Mizuno also pulled away in Am division by 17 points over CAP Southwoods as Tristan Tabanas practically scorched the par-61 Baguio Country Club course and registered an eagle-spiked four-under 57.
Tabanas scored 40 points under the Stableford format on his eagle-five birdie-three bogey splurge that topped his 37-point performance the previous day. That plus the 29 of Jimmy Feliciano and the 27 of Greg Lagauatan and Rudy Amata gave the defending champion 127 two-day output for a 249 total.
Southwoods could only muster 30 points each from Mark Lopez and Hanson So, while Artemio Murakami and Lyndon Barril churned in 29 points apiece. Veteran Junjun Plana hobbled with 21 points after picking up three times.
The 53rd Fil-Am is presented by Smart Communications with CAP, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Northwest Airlines, Wilson, BCDA, JPDC, Premiere Wines, San Miguel Corp as major sponsors. The minor backers are Bluecross-Assist America, Caltex Philippines, U-Bix, Brent School and Pizza Hut Baguio.
Meanwhile, Green Water Meadows fired a day best 94 to catch up with two-day leader and host Baguio Country Club and share the lead in Fil, D. Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.
Larry Puckett and Ben Balbis scored identical 26 points to lead Green Water Meadows’ 94-point haul at the BCC course for a 298 total and catch up with host BCC.
Benito Ang and Fred Puckett pocketed 22 and 20 points, respectively, to round up the score for Green Meadows which leaped to a tie for first from third.
Despite a 28 from Bill Lawrence, BCC still fired its worst score at 93 which but was good enough as the team retained the lead although it has to share it now with another team.
Guam Kool Swingers is ready to hoist the Fil C crown as it increased its lead to nine after a third-day haul of 93 points and a nine-point advantage over defending champion Home Metro Manila.
Willie Valencia shot a 29 to pace the team’s opening round at the short but tricky BCC layout after high scores in the first two rounds at the Camp John Hay course.
Home Metro Manila could only manage an 89 for a 306 total, while Publicis Dialog fired a Flight best 95 for 291 which is good for third, while SLGC Master Sports slipped to fourth after an 82 for 285.
Hard Rock Cafe/Country Waffles virtually clinched the F.E champion despite a low 82 points for a 291 total, a 39-point advantage over second running Chamorro. Pugad Lawin is third with 235 and JPDC is another three shots down. — With reports from Artemio Dumlao