Three-way fight looms for Fil-Am top honors

BAGUIO , Philippines  – A three-cornered fight among Manila Southwoods, Forest Hills and Mizuno is expected as action in the Fil Championship of the Fil-Am golf tournament starts today at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses here.

With last year’s champion The Country Club opting not to defend its crown, the fight for top honors in the centerpiece division becomes a wide-open race with seven-time champion Southwoods tipped as the team to beat.

Although the Carmona-based squad will be playing without top gun Antonio Asistio II, who is with the Philippine team in the SEA Games in Laos, the Southwoods golfers remain hopeful of their chances on a team built around Junjun Plana, Miggy Yee, Wolen Superal, Vince Lauron and Chepe Dulay.

Mizuno, on the other hand, is eyeing its second championship in five years with King Stehmeier, Justine Limjap, John Baron Garcia, Rodel Mangaluban, Richard Santos and Dax Garcia leading the team’s title drive.

“It will be very exciting,” said tournament vice chair Shin Paul Chan.

The other teams in the Fil Championship are Batangas Barako, AAV Builders and Camp Aguinaldo.

Meanwhile, Baguio Ventures II scored 90 points and took a three-shot lead over Rural Bankers I in the Fil C division at the BCC yesterday.

Isagani Senarillos paced the team with 25 points while Rey Martinez, James Wong and Ben Malcontento added 23, 22 and 20 points, respectively for Baguio Ventures.

Rural Bankers I leaned on Ed Bucag’s 25 as it assembled 87 points. Other scorers for the team were Buddy Zabat and Efren Leonardo, who both had 22 points, and Pelagio Alcantara who chipped in 18 points.

Davao Eagle Masters I put up an 85-point output and remained within striking distance as Paul Dakudao shot 26 points.

Over at the John Hay layout, Rod Spratt fired 31 points, Fred Mamiya made a 29, Scott Serfass scored a 27 and Joe Keliioka added 15 as Mamala Bay (RQ Elev) tallied 102 points to post a whopping 19-point lead in Am C.

Benlife Golf Team II had 83 while Anglo-Filipino Golf Society (UK) shot 71 points for second and third places, respectively.

Meanwhile, a Texas Eagle golf cart will be staked as hole-in-one prize on Nos. 15 and 18 of the BCC and John Hay courses, respectively.                   – Artemio Dumlao