Darwin, Team Sparta close in on Fil-Am titles

BAGUIO, Philippines – Darwin Golf Club Australia and Team Sparta pulled away and virtually logged the wins in the Fil and Am A flights, respectively, even as Manila Southwoods and San Miguel-Northern Cement resume their duel in the centerpiece Fil Championship in the 66th Fil-Am Golf Invitational presented by San Miguel Corp.

Darwin shot a 110 for 309 points for an 11-point lead over Silicon Valley, which had a 298 after a 102 in Fil-A yesterday. Peter Hergraves led Darwin with 32, while Kyle Butler, Wayne Morris and Gary Norris added 31, 26 and 21, respectively, for the Aussies.

Batch 92 also scored a 102 for third at 294.

Meanwhile, Thirdy Escaño turned in a 27 while three others churned out a 25-point output each as Team Sparta assembled 323 and stormed to a 16-point lead over Summit Point in Am-A.

Summit Point made a 94 for a 307 while erstwhile co-leader Villa Cacho-Ben–life sputtered with a 78 for a 299.

Philippine Navy shot 100 points built around the 27 of Ramon Fernando, the 26 of Joey Anciano and the 24 and 23 of Kazuo Murakami and Renie Floro, respectively, as it pooled a 265 for a four-point lead over Greenwater Meadows in Fil D.

Greenwater Meadows wavered with a 92 for a 261 while Mizuno Ecostrong and Ultraflite Golf Club II shot similar 95s for 249s.

Baguio City Golf Team wavered with a 70 at the BCC but remained 15 points up in Am-D action. Inoc Laranang scored 19 points, Michael Lawana and Melchor Rabanes turned in similar 18s, while Herr Bautista added 15 markers for a 255 total.

Ultraflite Golf Club I made a 73 for a 240 as it got past Isabela Golf Club-Leaders, who dropped to 237 after a 63.