MANILA, Philippines - Ricar Candidato and Ariel Villasencio struggled with a four-over-par 76 but still took a one-stroke lead over the fancied pair of Rupert Zaragosa and JP De Claro at the start of the NGAP’s National Doubles Championship at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.
Candidato-Villasencio settled down at the back and combined for a 37 in the foursomes, the best in the Group I field of the event presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as the unheralded duo grabbed the spotlight going into today’s alternate shot format at Eastridge in Binangonan, Rizal.
Zaragosa-De Claro floundered coming home, turning in a 39 for a 77 even as Jude Eustaquio, who named a new partner in Migs Garcia, carded a 78 in the event forming part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.
Korean expats Park Min-ung and Koh Myeong-hun hobbled with an 80, with the partnership of young Carlo Villaroman and Jay-R Salahug and Jed Dy-Ryan Monsalve shooting 82s to stay six shots adrift.
The father and son team of former NGAP president Tommy Manotoc and Gabriel Manotoc struggled and limped with an 83 even as Jing Romero-Martin Guiang shot an 88 to set the Group II pace by three.
Paqo Barro-Aldo Barro was in second spot in Group II, with Francis Sabio-Lindsey Salilig shooting a 98 to trail by a 10 shots.
Hwang Min-jeong and Seong Eun-jeong pulled away in Ladies Division play with a 76, with the tandem of Koh Eun-ah and Song Min-jeong trailing by eight shots.