Agui poised for Fil-Am Srs sweep

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Camp Aguinaldo shot a 96 and wrested a three-point lead over Baguio Country Club in Am A while its team in the Fil division virtually clinched the crown with a 58-point lead over BCC in the Fil-Am invitational seniors golf tournament here yesterday.

Ben Liclican fired 27 points while Francis Calma, Jacinto Ligot and Clyde Fernandez added 26, 24 and 19 points, respectively, as Aguinaldo, which trailed BCC in the first two rounds at the nearby BCC layout, pressed its bid as play shifted to Camp John Hay.

Frank Manalo’s 18-point output didn’t count for the team in the five-to-play, four-to-count format event.

With a 225 aggregate, Aguinaldo grabbed a three-point lead over BCC, which struggled with an 89 from Jess Ambucay and Benjie Favis’ identical 23 points, Luis Sison’s 22 and Herr Bautista’s 21 points for a 222.

Cordillera Early Birds overtook Capitol Hills for third with a 210 after a 78. Capitol Hills made 65 for a 209.

In Fil A, Eduardo Gador fired a four-over 65 at BCC worth 32 points to lead Aguinaldo’s 100-point output for a three-day total of 317 as it virtually wrapped up the championship with a whopping 58-point lead over BCC with one round left in the annual event presented by Toyota.

Art Alabanza had 24, while Dante Tejada and Glykes Sua chipped in 22 points apiece for Aguinaldo.

BCC drew 23 points from Bill Lawrence, a 21 from Nelson Tandoc and a pair of 20s from Marcelo Alfonso and Vadz Navarrete while Benito scored 19 and didn’t count in the tournament backed by American Eye Center, Rudy Project, Wilson Sports, Gatorade, Carts Plaza and Supreme Bikes.

Meanwhile, Camp John Hay resumes its title drive in the Fil Championship at the shorter but trickier BCC layout, hoping to pad its 20-point lead over Manila Southwoods.

John Hay scored a 119 on the pair of 31s from Clyde Cabreros and Rudy Lockey, a 30 from Fred Puckett and 27 from either Goodie Ignacio and Park Jun Won for a 248 aggregate.

“We still have two days to go,” said CJH golf manager Steve McDonald.

Last year, John Hay led for three days but lost the crown as Manila Southwoods, then Maxima Komatsu, rallied in the final day to snatch a one-point victory.

Southwoods shot 121 points for a 228 as Florene delos Santos made a two-over 71 worth 34 points, Eduardo Sison had a 30, Freddie Mendoza shot a 29 and Antonio Hernandez added a 28. Bayani Fontanilla Jr. failed to count with a 26.

ABW Leaves of Life had 101 for a 205 total and stood in third in the tournament.

Camp John Hay also leads the Am side of the tournament with a 207 after a 117, 44 points clear of Manila Southwoods heading into the last two rounds.

Nelson Eslao scored a 32, Bong Mandapat had a 31 and Ric Madayag and Mars Garcia each had 27 for CJH.