Ex-pro Bagtas propels Luisita vs Cangolf

BACOLOD , Philippines   â€“ Former pro Eddie Bagtas returned to the place that nurtured his talent and skills, hoping to do his share to end Luisita’s title drought and lifting the team to the lead at the start of the 67th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championship here yesterday.

He wasted little time making his presence felt for the 14-time champions as he fired a gutsy 52 in the PAL points system, giving Luisita a slim one-point edge over defending champion Canlubang.

Bagtas, a key addition to Luisita’s bid to break Canlubang’s three-year reign and win a first title since 2010, submitted the day’s best round of two-over 72 at Bacolod Country Club’s Binitin course to tow the Luisitans to a leading 144.

Pepot Inigo backstopped Bagtas with 49 while Seve Roxas Chua chipped in 43 as the Tarlac-based contingent seized pole position against rival Cangolf, which pooled a 143 around the 51 of Rolly Viray and a pair of 46s from Dave Hernandez and Tony Olives.

“It’s a morale booster and confidence builder; iba rin iyung nakauna ka, pero mahaba pa yan (it’s advantageous to get the headstart in a tournament like this but it’s still a long way to go),” said Luisita team manager Joey Romasanta.

It was some sort of welcome back party for Luisita boy Bagtas, who reigned as a young amateur with the Tarlac-based club.

“Luisita na talaga yan even befor he turned pro (He’s a Luisita player dating back to his younger days),” said Romasanta. “Malaking tulong siya sa team. Iba na rin yung beterano. Sa labanan na ganito, dibdib at puso ang kailangan (His vast experience gives us a big boost in a competition that can be a tight and nerve-wracking as this).” 

Lino Magpantay’s 37 did not count for Luisita in the opener of the four-to-play, three-to-count format tournament, which shifts to the Negros Occidental-Marapara Golf and Country Club for Round 2.

Cangolf top gun Hernandez struggled with double bogeys on Nos. 3, 13 and 16 and four more bogeys against birdies on 7 and 17 to return to the clubhouse with a 78, the same card as Olives. Viray carried the fight for the Sugar Barons with a 73.

Luis Garcia of Orchard matched Bagtas’  52-point output but the team could only manage a tally of 137 for third spot, its opening salvo dampened by the disqualification of one of its players.

Jun Bailee, who made a second-best 48, was disqualified for signing for the wrong score on No. 15 and his effort was eventually scratched off Orchard’s sheet. In his place were Nestor Sevilla and Lim Jim-gon who submitted 44 and 41, respectively.

Manila Golf stood at a distant fourth with 129 from the 44 of Arsenic Laurel, 43 of Bryan Cockrell, and 42 of Eduardo Cu-Unjieng, while Cebu Country Club occupied No. 5 with 128 built around the 46 of Edito Tirol, 43 of Horii Koichi, and 39 of Kim Yeon Sheok.

Meanwhile, over at Marapara, Wack Wack took the early pace in a looming six-way fight for top honors in the Founders division.

Wack Wack assembled 129 points from Buddy Velayo’s 46, Takanobu Taira’s 43 and Isaac Go’s 40 to stay one ahead ofAlta Vista’ 128. Closely following were Villamor (127), Marapara (126), Eagle Ridge (125) and Rancho Palos Verdes (125).

This year’s Interclub is being co-sponsored by CrossOver with Boeing, Philippines Graphic, Stargate Media (People Asia) and Rogue as corporate backers. Also lending support are Airbus, Business Mirror, One Mega Group (Travel Now), Philippine Broadcasting Corporation, Manila Broadcasting Corporation and Manila Bulletin.