Josefino Villanueva toured the par 72, 6,401-yard Lanang Golf and Country Club course with an 80 — or 46 points in the modified Stableford scoring system — to pace Crystal Springs.
Lanang, despite its advantage of knowing how to play the course, could only come up with 198 to settle for second place in the battle for the Sportswriters Division pennant.
Over at the par 72, 7,000-yard Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club course in nearby Buhangin, Mabuhay made 209 to take the early lead in the Friendship Division.
Philippine Navy combined for 194 to become Mabuhay’s closest rival. Third was Pittsburg with 187 while Travellers Golf and Davao City Golf stayed in the running after shooting 179s.
Aguinaldo Golf Club collected 190 to take third place, while Club Filipino tallied 188 and Club Intramuros carded 187 to stay in contention for team honors.
Bernardo de Guzman supported Villanueva with 43, Constante Foronda contributed 42 and Iksoo Chai and Nicomedes Cava added 40 and 32, respectively, to complete Crystal Springs’ scoring.
Inocencio Rendon scored 26, Fred Viray came up with 25 and Robert Howard carded but in the annual tournament featuring seniors who are 55 years old and above, only the best five scores are counted a round.
Those 46 points also gave Villanueva a share of the lead with Oscar Lopez of Lanang in the race for individual honors in the same division.
Completing the scoring for Lanang were the 40 points apiece of Nestor Plana Jr. and Conrado Ibanez, James Pendelbury’s 39 and the 33 of Manuel Grandeza.
Those who didn’t count for Lanang were Robert Duvois and Geronimo with 31 each and Manual Tan’s 24.
A record field of 68 teams is competing in the 54-hole tournament, which had its auspicious beginnings in 1986 in PAL’s effort to provide an additional event for the country’s senior golfers.
Seventy-seven teams, also a record, are taking part in the 56th edition of the regular tournament starting Tuesday, February 25 at the Apo Golf and Country Club and Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.