Magada strong in the winds

CEBU – The First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit seems ready to crown its first double-leg champion as a red-hot Benjie Magada again tamed the strong winds with a two-under-par 70 yesterday and stormed ahead by six strokes at the Cebu Country Club.

His low-flight shots with a brand new Wilson Deep Red driver working to his advantage in the devilish gusts, Magada knocked in two birdies from close range and parred the remaining holes to crack par for the third straight day and virtually had the P100,000 champion’s prize in the bag with his 209 aggregate for 54 holes.

While his rivals were scrambling for pars, Magada made it look so easy with a superb round where he hit 17 greens in regulation.

The winner of the Iloilo leg will tee off for the final leg today with a hefty six-shot margin over first round frontrunner Elmer Salvador and Tony Lascuna, who won the kick-off leg at Sta. Elena.

Lascuna was steady with his 72 but just couldn’t match the torrid pace of Magada while his neighbor in Davao, Salvador returned a 73-his dream of a first ever victory as a pro looking nearly impossible at this point.

The next player in the standings of this sixth leg of the circuit staged by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc. for the sponsoring First Gentleman’s Foundation of Mike Arroyo, presenter San Miguel and official carrier WG&A Super Ferry was Canlubang leg titlist Richard Sinfuego who was at 217 after a 70.

"Atin na siguro yan," said Magada, exuding the confidence of a champion who’s been working so hard on his game all year. "Maganda kasi ang pinapalo ko talaga, sa sobrang practice na rin siguro."

Fact is, he is the only player among the survivors to have broken par three days in a row.

Magada said he’s not used to holding such a big lead but a "conservative round" today will be enough to win him his fourth career title.