Del Monte pulls away in Luzvimin Invit'l

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines  – Del Monte Golf Club bucked the 60-point burst by Manila Southwoods’ Sunshine Baraquiel with an impressive 260 to stretch its lead to 24 points and virtually snare the Champion Infinity 20th Luzvimin Golf Invitational presented by Pacsports crown at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here Thursday.

Four players scored 51 Molave points or more while two others added 49, underscoring Del Monte’s balanced attack that put it way out in front with a 514 total heading to the final round of the 54-hole event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP).

Lovelynn Guioguio fired 55 points, Sofia Chabon shot 53, Kristine Leonen made a 52 and first round top scorer Eva Miñoza added a 51. Apple Fudolin and Pamela Mariano each had 49, one of which counted for Del Monte in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format tournament sponsored by Champion Infinity and Pacsports.

Baraquiel, the defending individual champion from the five-peat seeking Southwoods crew, tamed the par 72 up-and-down layout with a sizzling 60-point output, six-under in stroke play, to lead the Carmona based-squad’s 257.

Although Annika Cedo and Beachie Abiera turned in solid rounds of 56 and 51 points, respectively, the rest failed to step up with Lora Roberto making a 47 and Christine Naidoo carding a 43.

Sta. Elena remained in third with a 397 after a 195 while Pueblo de Oro I shot a 193 for 387 followed by Mactan (185-358), Pueblo de Oro 2 (167-324) and Orchard (125-249).

Forest Hills, led by So Han Uy and Grace Atienza, surged ahead in Ruby division with a 394 after a 201 for a six-point lead over first round leader Tagaytay Highlands, which slowed down with a 189 for a 388. Negros Occidental had a 369 after a 191 for third followed by Bacolod (179-360), Riviera (169-341) and Manila Golf (160-305).

Apo Golf, with Imee Garcia carding 44 points, also moved closer to the Pearl crown as it scored a 185 for a 359, stretching its two-point lead over Davao City Golf and Villamor to 12.

Davao made a 175 for a 347 while the Villamor ladies settled for a 171 and a 343. Camp Aguinaldo stood in fourth at 285 after a 147 followed by Victorias (145-271) and Baguio (138-266).

Despite Southwoods’ slide, Baraquiel grabbed the individual lead in the premier class with a 113, seven points ahead of Miñoza and eight over Guioguio while Chabon snatched a one-point lead over Cedo, 101-100, in the Class A derby.

Hedy See of Tagaytay Highlands took the lead in Class B with an 85, eight up on Uy and Shimura, while Davao City Golf’s JM Balbuena pooled a 72 and kept a one-point lead over teammate Josephine Vergara, who made a 71, in Class C.