Mizuno-DHL nears Fil-Am golf crown

BAGUIO CITY — Mizuno-DHL kept the momentum of its solid stints at the Baguio Country Club with a gutsy showing at the tough par-69 Camp John Hay layout yesterday, firing 141 points and virtually foiling Manila Southwoods’ bid for a fifth straight Fil Championship crown with a whopping 16-point lead in the 54th Fil-Am invitational golf tournament here.

Romeo Jaraula upstaged the fancied Jerome Delariarte with a two-under 67 for 38 points as he powered Mizuno-DHL to its 54-hole aggregate of 396 points and big 16-point bulge over the four-time defending champions heading into the final round of the annual championship.

Paul Miñoza matched par 69 for 36 points, while Erwin Vinluan and Tristan Tabanas had 34 and 33, respectively, to underscore Mizuno-DHL’s balanced offensive sock.

Delariarte, who will banner the RP team bid in next week’s Putra Cup in Brunei, sizzled with a five-under 64 for 40 points but the two-time national champion failed to draw support from his teammates the way Jaraula did as Manila Southwoods settled for a 136 and a 380 total. Ton Ton Asistio scored 35 points, Mark Lopez had 31 and either Artemio Murakami or Gene Bondoc’s 30 counted.

But while its main team appeared headed for a big victory in the premier event, Mizuno-DHL’s squad in the Am Championship blew the lead it held for two days as the Southwoods bets seized the lead with 390 after 124. Mizuno-DHL fumbled with a 101 for 369. — Artemio Dumlao