North pads lead to 4 as rains halt play

MANILA, Philippines - Team North pulled off another 2.5-1.5 win over Team South in the morning fourball to stretch its lead to four before heavy rains stopped play midway in the afternoon foursomes in the second day of the Duel – North vs South golf showdown at Alabang Country Club yesterday.

Unfancied Benjie Magada and Randy Garalde surprised the veteran pair of Elmer Salvador and Marvin Dumandan in the best-ball format, fashioning out a 3&2 victory while Miguel Tabuena and Carl Santos-Ocampo regained their winning ways and toppled Mhark Fernando and Rufino Bayron, 2-up.

Gerald Rosales and Joenard Rates battled Cassius Casas and Tony Lascuna to an all-square game to seal Team North’s victory as South’s Jay Bayron and Ferdie Aunzo, however, stopped the Angelo Que-Mars Pucay tandem, 1-up, and took a full point.

Counting their 5 ½-3 ½ win in the first day, the Northerners went further ahead, 8-4, heading to the suspended alternate shot format of the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“I can’t complain. We’re doing fine. As long as the guys play as one unit, we’ll be okay,” said Team North skipper Cookie La’O.

However, Team South was leading in four matches when play was suspended. The matches will be resumed early today before the deciding 12 singles matches, according to Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Dumandan and new partner Jhonnel Ababa was up by one hole against the Michael Bibat-Jun Bernis tandem, Casas and Mhark Fernando were also ahead, 2-up, against the Magada-Garalde pair, Lascuna and Elmer Saban built a 4-up lead over Rates and Gene Bondoc, while Aunzo and Jay Bayron were 3-up over the Que-Tabuena tandem.

A sweep by the Southerners will force an 8-all count and set the stage for a thrilling finale in the 12 singles matches where experts believe Team South has the edge.

But Team North has proven it can measure up with its more fancied rivals with a fine display of firepower in the first three of four clashes in the three-day event sponsored by Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers, FootJoy, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Mizuno and Sharp.

Magada birdied No. 13 from five feet then made a chip-in birdie from the fringe on the 15th while Garalde capped that birdie binge with his own version on the 16th to finish off Salvador and Dumandan.

One-up going to No. 18, Tabuena missed an eagle putt for a tap-in birdie, dashing any hopes for an extension from Fernando and Bayron.

Rosales and Rates fought Casas and Lascuna on even terms and wound up all-square before Jay Bayron and Aunzo bucked Que’s run of birdies in the first holes with a come-from-behind 1-up win.