Mizuno-DHL pads Fil-Am lead to 13

BAGUIO CITY — Mizuno-DHL firmed up its bid for a first ever Fil Championship crown in the 54th Fil-Am golf tournament as it fired 128 points yesterday to take a commanding lead halfway through the event at the Baguio Country Club course here.

Erwin Vinluan scored 35 points to power Mizuno-DHL to a 256 aggregate, 13 points ahead of four-time defending champion Manila Southwoods as action shift to Camp John Hay golf course today for the final two rounds.

Brunei-bound Marvin Dumandan added 32, while Tristan Tabanas and Paul Miñoza tossed in 31 and 30, respectively.

Southwoods crumbled after Jerome Delariarte lost in his match-up with Vinluan as the spearhead of Putra Cup team next week settled for a two over 63 for 34 points. The Carmona-based team had 120 points for a 243.

Artemio Murakami, a former national champion, turned in 30 points, while Gene Bondoc and Antonio Asistio, 14, made 28 points apiece.

Play in the Am Championship at John Hay was suspended on account of darkness.

Meanwhile, Baguio Mayor Bernardo Vergara gifted himself with a big birthday present by firing 25 points at the Baguio Country Club course as Team Baguio I wrested the lead in the Am Flight C from halfway leader Pines Golf of California.

City Prosecutor Melchor Rabanes tossed in 21 points, while Oscar Flores and councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia added 20 and 19 points, respectively for Team Baguio I, which pooled an aggregate of 261 after that 85 for a one-point lead over US-based bets.

Leader Mizuno-DHL and arch-rival Manila Southwoods were still playing at presstime as the Championships flights teed off last before lunch. The Mizuno-DHL teams paced the Southwoods bets both in the Fil and Am Championships.

Pines Golf of California, composed of former Baguio residents, was paced by James Alviar with 25 points while Vic Agcaoili, a former local journalist, added 22 for the team’s 83 point production and 260 total.

A distant third is Batch 92 with 233 points.

Local bet Sustagen Premium I held sway in Am D with 230 points after a 63 even as Korea Morning Calm closed to within three points at 227 after a 71.

Publicis Dialog is in third 212 after a 63.

However, Publicis Dialog’s Fil C team pulled away with 18 points with Theodore Pascual shooting a personal-high 33 points (three-over 72 at the Camp John Hay) to lead the team’s 112-point output and a 296 total. — Artemio Dumlao