Golden Oats Plus keeps slim lead vs John Hay

BAGUIO — Golden Oats Plus pooled 124 points to post a one-point lead over Camp John Hay in the premier Fil championship of the 57th Fil-Am golf invitational at John Hay golf course yesterday.

Golden Oats Plus played minus Freddie Mendoza but Florene de los Santos, Eduardo Sison, Eugene Arriesgado and Jun Fontanilla played true to form to power the team to the early lead in the centerpiece division.

"The guys are just great to play that way," said Mendoza, who had a bum stomach.

De los Santos fired 34 points under the PAL Stableford scoring system, Sison chipped in 33, Arriesgado made a 30 and Fontanilla added 27 to power Golden Oats Plus to the top.

Camp John Hay, on the other hand, drew 36 points from Clyde Cabreros and Fred Puckett while Nelson Eslao and Bob Patterson shot 27 and 24 points, respectively, for the team’s 124 output.

In medal play, Cabreros and Puckett made par 69s with the equivalent of 36 points in the Stableford scoring system that awards one point for a bogey, two par, three birdie and so on. He also took the early lead in the battle for individual honors.

Meantime, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club shot a 95 and Belyn Holdings/Mizuno Seniors assembled 107 at the Baguio Country Club to share the spotlight in the third day action of the annual event.

Dante Tejada scored 27, Frank Manalo made 26, Nestor Garcia shot 23 and Clyde Fernandez fired 19 as the Aguinaldo bets took a 14-point lead in the Am Division championship.

Belyn Holding/Mizuno carded 107 also at the BCC to take the early lead in the Fil Division’s Flight A in the event sponsored by Wilson Sports, Pacsports, Generali Pilipinas, San Miguel Corp., Asian Spirit, Ayala Land, Ottica Eyewear, Universty of Baguio, Turf Co., Texas Instruments, Eva Air, U-Bix, Club Car and Travel Club.

Fairgolf Club of Sydney had a 104 while Manila Southwoods made a 97 and Baguio Country Club a 94.

Meanwhile, Che’lus of Guam scored a third round 98 to go with its earlier 104 and 106 for 308 to virtually rule the Fil Division Flight D category with a commanding 24-point lead over Baguio Country Club, which made 88 for 284.

Baguio Country Club scored 84 to take the early Am Division Flight A lead, four points ahead of Philippine Seniors Founders, which had an 80. Isabela Golf Club 1 had a 79, while Fil-Hawaiian GC and Capitol Hills scored 78 and 70 points, respectively. – Artemio Dumlao