Cangolf, S’woods bets fuel rivalry, tie for lead

CANLUBANG – Boyet Saragoza and JR Tanpinco stepped up when their fancied fellow club bets floundered a bit on a scorching day at Cangolf’s north course yesterday, firing identical one-under par 71s for a share of the lead with two other rivals from Southwoods at the start of the 10th DHL-WWWExpress National Amateur Golf Championships here.

Saragoza, who has long stayed in the shadows of the more illustrious names in the Cangolf squad such as Juvic Pagunsan and Jun Bernis, and Tanpinco both bogeyed the par-4 17th to drop into a tie with the Carmona-based golfers in Michael Bibat and Tonton Asistio.

Bibat and Asistio both birdied the first two holes but failed to sustain that charge and finished with 35-36 and 37-34 cards, respectively, in a curious first round result many hoped would turn into another Canlubang-Southwoods showdown like the one in the just-concluded PAL Interclub in Bacolod.

In fact, the hosts, who lost to Southwoods by 2 just points in a thrilling final round duel, are seeking some kind of a revenge in this four-day championship sponsored by DHL World Express and WWWExpress. And thanks to Saragoza and Tanpinco for taking over the cudgels after Pagunsan and Bernis, Cangolf’s 1-2 punch, struggled to a 73 and 75, respectively.

Earlier, Rod Feliciano, honorary chairman of NGAP (National Golf Association of the Phils.) and chairman of the sponsoring DHL and WWWExpress, and NGAP president Benny Gopez led the hitting of the ceremonial drive kicking off the four-day event which also features the cream of the ladies crop. Others who graced the tournament were Carlos Nivera, Cangolf treasurer and director, John Stanton, DHL development executive, NGAP vice president Commodore Danny Pizarro, Larry Liamzon, DHL country manager, Dawn Feliciano, COO of WWWExpress and May Cuevas, national marketing manager of DHL.

Raymund Sangil mixed four birdies against the same number of bogeys and matched par 72 to tie Joel Opaco, stringing nines of 36-36, for fifth place.

After bogeying two of his first three holes, Pagunsan actually went two-under with three birdies in a 9-hole stretch linking both nines. But the reed-thin but power-hitting shotmaker uncharacteristically fumbled with a triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 13th and scrambled for pars the rest of the way to salvage that 35-38 card for a share of seventh with Jerome Malaga (37-36), Erwin Vinluan (37-36), Boboy Jaraula (38-35), Ferdinand Aunzo (35-38), Choi Ming Gyu (39-34) and Mario Labajo (36-37).

Bernis, who thwarted Pagunsan’s final round rally to cop the crown last year, had a roller coaster round of 37-38 marred by seven bogeys and found himself in joint 14th place with Gene Bondoc (37-38), Jett Plete (36-39) and former national amateur champion Artemio Murakami (38-37), one stroke behind Mark Fernando, who had a 74.

Meanwhile, Jayvie Agojo tries to reassert her mastery over the same field she has dominated last year and just recently as she opens her title-retention bid in the ladies side of the event which starts today.

The 18-year-old Agojo, the reigning RP Ladies Open champion and winner of countless titles the last 14 months, is heavily favored to run away with the crown owing to her superb form and resolve unmatched by her peers.

Out to foil Agojo’s back-to-back title bid are Lora Roberto, Carmelette Villaroman, Anya Tanpinco, Tracy Locsin, Aileen Rose Yao, Dottie Ardina, Regina de Guzman and Lina de Guzman.