Hechanova wrests 3-shot edge

MANILA, Philippines - Mari Hechanova put in a solid one-over par 73 yesterday and took a three-shot lead over Rolly Viray as the Canlubang bets poised to dominate the Philippine Senior Amateur Golf Championships at Riviera’s Couples course in Silang, Cavite.

Hechanova, in joint second with Southwoods’ Florene delos Santos, one stroke behind opening day leader Pepot Iñigo at the start of the round, pounced on Inigo’s shaky start, making the turn at 37 then closing out with a steady 36 for a 73 for a 36-hole aggregate of 149.

That was three strokes clear off Viray, the former national champion who recovered from a 78 with a two-over 74 as he took the challenger’s role at 152 while Inigo failed to recover from a poor start and hobbled with a 78 to drop to third at 153, four shots adrift.

The club bet bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3 then dropped two more strokes for a 40 before stumbling with two bogeys at the back to close out with a birdie-less 78.

Delos Santos tied Iñigo in third with a 77 while Dave Hernandez, another Cangolf bet, made a 76 for a 155 and Tony Olives, also of Canlubang, stood a shot farther back at 156 after a 79.

Iggy Clavecilla, the reigning five-time champion, bounced back from an awful opening 82 with a 74 but the Alabang bet remained too far behind Hechanova at 156 heading to the last 18 holes of the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Eagle Ridge’s Anthony Youn Han skied to an 82 for a 160 while Francis Gaston of Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, last year’s runner-up and a former national champion, bowed out of contention with a 162 after an 84.

Meanwhile, action in the other group competitions resumes today with Katy Katigbak and Gilmer Batestil leading Category II (60-64) with 78s and Manuel Pone showing the way in Category III (65-69) with an 83.

Jun Galindez enjoys a five-shot lead over Jun Rafer in Super Senior II (75-79) with a 103 while former President Fidel V. Ramos has a big 18-stroke lead over Ben Santiago in Super Senior III (80-and-above) with a 108.

Hechanova birdied No. 3 to grab the early lead and remained on top despite a bogey-bogey stint from No. 8. He hit another birdie on No. 12 but dropped a stroke on the 15th before closing out with pars for that 73.

Viray also turned in a steady round at the front, birdying No. 9 to negate a bogey mishap on No. 4 but slowed down a bit at the back with two bogeys, including the par-5 16th for a 74.