Pangan-Carsula sets pace in Orchard Founders Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Mario Pangan and his partner Eleazar Carsula grabbed the upperhand in an expected wild dash to the overall net plum after posting 85 points at the completion of the first round of action in the 17th Founders Cup Invitational, the member-guest tournament of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Playing at the Palmer course where the aggregate format is in effect, Pangan chalked up 46 points and Carsula did 39 to emerge as the solo frontrunner in Class C and among the many teams with a shot at the overall net crown in the event backed by Globe Telecom, Banco de Oro-CLG/VISA, Mizuno, Sta. Lucia Realty, Kulinarya Global Corp., CATS Motors/Mercedes-Benz and Mazda as major sponsors.

Most of the leaders will return to play the Player course in the weekend for the exciting best-ball format. They will still have a chance at the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C180 Classic, which is up for grabs for a hole-in-one on all par-3s of the course. A 2013 Mazda CX-5  is at stake on all par-3s of the Palmer course. Separate units of the Benz C-Class and the Mazda CX-5 are the jackpot prizes in the Orchard Grand Raffle, the winners of which will be drawn in tonight’s award rites.

Regent Travel is also giving away an all-expense paid golfing holiday for two in Mission Hills Resort Dongguan for a hole-in-one in either course which will be raffled off in today’s awarding rites if not won on the course. Asiana Airlines will likewise give away two economy tickets to any destination in the US West Coast, New York City or London as a major raffle prize for tournament participants.