MANILA, Philippines — Stunned by the host team’s early surge, 16-time champion Luisita recovered from a first round struggle with a superb 147-point effort, wresting control by seven points over archrival Canlubang on the second day of the PAL Airlines Seniors Interclub at Club Filipino de Cebu in Cebu City yesterday.
Benjie Sumulong stood at the forefront of the Tarlac-based squad’s attack on the challenging layout, churning out 52 points anchored on three birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey.
Reigning national seniors champion Rodel Mangulabnan backed him up with 50 while former pro Demy Saclot added 45 as the Luisitans, who turned in a mediocre 138 on the first day, pooled a 285 halfway through the four-day championship. Rafael Garcia did not count with 43.
Canlubang, which matched Luisita’s first round score of 138, four points behind Cebu Country Club, struggled for the second straight day, settling for 140 for a 278 with Abe Rosal and Damasus Wong scoring identical 48s and Zaldy Villa chipping in a 44.?
“We played better today (yesterday) and we’re fortunate that we are now leading by seven,” said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova. “The course was just playing tough.”?
Rosal, last year’s individual champion in Bacolod City, failed to break 50 following a round of one birdie against seven bogeys.?
A day after upstaging the perennial title rivals with a 142 at Alta Vista, Cebu Country Club groped for 131 points at Club Filipino and fell 12 points behind Luisita with a 273.
Newcomer Jufil Sato was CCC’s top scorer with 46 with Nelson Yuvallos adding 43. The 42 of either Montito Garcia or Lorenzo Alaan rounded out scoring.?
Del Monte Golf Club assembled a 267 after a 129.?
Arsenio Mondilla led Del Monte with 44 followed by Erning Apas 43 and Antonio Arancon 42.?
In the second-tier Founders division also played at the Club Filipino de Cebu, Orchard hung on to a five-point lead over Negros Occidental.? Orchard, led by Dong Jin Tak’s 48 points, finished the day with 125 points to boost its total to 266.