Brunei paces Asean seniors golf; Phl joint 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - Brunei pooled a 219 as it posted a seven-stroke lead over the Philippines and Malaysia at the start of the 28th ASEAN Seniors Golf Championships at the Korea Country Club at Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Field, Pampanga last Monday.

Alfred Sim fired a three-under 69 for the day’s best score as he powered Brunei’s early surge in the tournament, which drew a total of 264 players from six countries.

Jaji Brahim Hj Jumahat carded a 74 while Hj Suot Hj Moksin added a 76 for Brunei’s 219. Dato Hali Idris Hj Belaman made a 78 and didn’t count in the four-to-play, three-to-count format gross score team category event.

Reigning national seniors champion Pepot Iñigo and Jose Mari Hechanova each shot a 75 while Rudy Amata turned in a 76 as the Philippines assembled a 226. Tony Olives failed to count with an 86.

Malaysia also put in a 226 with Datuk HS Khamis matching par 72 and Hamdqan Zambahari and Goh Chang Tau adding a 76 and 78, respectively. M.K. Azmey was scratched out with an 86.

Thailand struggled with a 231 for fourth while Singapore stood 10 strokes farther back at 241.

Meanwhile, Mario Luday and Dante Tejada carded even par 72s in the Strokeplay Net (Stableford) category of the event sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Pagcor, Department olf Tourism, Business Mirror, CrossOver 105.1 Manila, DWDM Pinas FM 95.5, Clark Development Corp., Clark Int’l. Airport Corp., Emperador Distillers, Pepsi-Cola, Orix, Metro Leasing and Finance Corp., Suncoast Brands and Century Properties.

Meanwhile, the 2012 edition of the ASEAN Senior Championships, featuring the golfing seniors who are members of the Confederation of Amateur Senior Golfers Associations (CASGA), will be in Malaysia.

The CASGA president is Clyde Fernandez, also the head of the Federation of Philippine Amateur Seniors Golfers, Inc. (FPASGI).