Southwoods hikes lead to 6

MANILA, Philippines — Korean Jung Hyun-jae and Masaichi Otake salvaged a couple of 32 points on clutch finishes as Manila Southwoods saved a 125 and warded off Luisita’s fiery third-round charge to hike its lead to six in the rain-hit PAL Men’s Interclub at Bacolod Golf Club yesterday.

Jung and Otake delivered in the closing holes to hack out a pair of four-over par cards in stroke play, while Sean Ramos added a 31 and either Kristoffer Arevalo or Vince Lauron’s 30 points counted for the Carmona-based squad, which hung tough in a day marred by a number of stoppages due to heavy rains.

With a 362 aggregate, Southwoods moved 18 holes away from atoning a failed five-peat bid last year in Cebu but arch rival Luisita, behind Elee Bisera’s sizzling 39 points, pressed its bid by turning in a tournament-best 135 points to close within striking distance at 356. 

That guarantees a thrilling finish at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club although the threat of the final round being called off loomed after heavy rains pounded the Marapara course all afternoon long and early evening.

Del Monte bowed out of the fight after groping for 106 points with Raul Minoza leading the squad with 30 for 336 overall.

The downpour actually forced the suspension of third-round play in the Founders and Friendship divisions, and if Binitin, where Southwoods, Luisita and Del Monte played, holds up, then the final round of those tournaments will be staged to be able to complete 54.

Forest Hills set the Founders pace after 36 holes with a 234 with Tagaytay Highlands at 230 and Cebu Country Club, the defending overall champion, toting a 225 and virtually out of the championship race.

Despite Luisita’s threat, Southwoods remains the favorite with Japanese aces Yuto Katsuragawa and Aguri Iwasaki suiting up for the team in the final along with Jun Jun Plana, Josh Jorge and Santino Laurel.

SW scored 122 points in the opening round, the best in the field on Wednesday. Jung birdied his last three holes while Otake hit two birdies in the last four.