Fil-Am championship under way: Three-way showdown looms

BAGUIO, Philippines – San Miguel-Northern Cement sets out for its title-retention drive without its former top gun as action in the Fil-Championship of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational presented by San Miguel fires off today at Camp John Hay Golf Club here.

A three-way fight looms in the centerpiece event of the annual championship with San Miguel-NCC bracing for a duel with eight-time champion Manila Southwoods and Srixon Forest Hills, now led by many-time junior titlist and former national champion Rupert Zaragosa, who spearheaded San Miguel’s title romp last year. 

“We won last year with Rupert with us, but he left us for Forest Hills. But then we have to take our chances. Even without him, it’s still anybody’s game,” said ex-pro Eddie Bagtas, who powered San Miguel-NCC to a second straight Seniors Fil Championship crown last week.

As the team’s skipper, Bagtas hopes to draw solid games in all four days from Jelbert Gamolo, GJ Katigbak, Gabby Manotoc and Meynard Ko.

But Southwoods, winner of seven straight from 1996 to 2002, is also out to rebound from its final day fold-up last year on a team built around Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa, Kristoffer Arevalo and Ryan Monsalve with Ira Anido, Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus backing up the young but talented roster.

“We have a very young team with Manila Southwoods program of showcasing youthful talents to infuse excitement and drama in the 67th edition of this annual event,” said Thirdy Escano of Southwoods.

“Though our players may be young, they all possess the skills, discipline and drive to secure the Fil Championship plum for our club,” he added.

Zaragosa, meanwhile, is raring to lead Forest Hills, his third team in the Fil-Am after starting out with AAV Robros Venturelinks.

Now he hopes to lift the title anew with the 2013 champion team backed by Juson Eustaquio, Dan Cruz, Luigi Miguel Guerero and JP de Claro.

Carlo Villaroman, on the other hand, will banner Royal Northwoods which hopes to nail the win on its second year in what is long considered as the biggest and oldest amateur golf tournament in the world.

Villaroman will have Luis Castro, Richard Joson, Carlo Gatmaytan and Richnell Albano as teammates in the San Rafael, Bulacan-based squad.

Mizuno Ecoverde, the 2014 champion, is also in the fold with King Stehmeier, Rodel Mangalubnan, Justin Limjap, Noel Langamin and former pro Ray Sangil backstopping the team.

Other teams this year in the premiere flight are Che’lus of Guam and Team Time Cargo Masters under Theody Pascual.

Meanwhile, Escano is also upbeat of their chances in the Am side with Junjun Plana leading the team along with Chepe Dulay, former San Miguel’s Lanz Uy, Jose Sajulga, Joo Hyung Kim and Liam Cully.

Others vying in the division are Alaska Royalink, Batangas Barakos, Forest Hills Palmers, Leeward Fil-Am Golf, Mizuno Ecoverde and Team Sparta of Escano.

Denied last week of a podium finish in the seniors competitions, Douglas Puckett found another ally within his family as they led Green Water Golfers to a three shot lead at the start of competitions in Fil B of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational presented by San Miguel at the Baguio Country Club.

In the lower flights of the regular Fil-Am, Green Water Golfers took control with a 92 as Douglas Puckett shot 27 points, brother Gary added a 24 and nephew John Paul chipped in 23 and Robert Boada scored 18 points.

John Quinata led Che’lus with 24, Warren Pelletier had 23, Jess Quenga made 22 and Jeff Blas chipped in 20 to count or the team’s 89 in the five-to-play, four-to-count event under the Modified PAL Stableford format.

Actually Che’lus is tied with Ventureslink Robros Jayworkx with 89 and lead co-host Baguio Country Club by two.

Meanwhile, Batch 92 opened with a 92 to lead in Am D with Fil-Am League of Golfers-Chicago carding an 81 for second spot.