Candinato, Sara rule Pro-Am tilt

MANILA, Philippines — Ricar Candinato got more than what he asked for from amateur partner Zeus Sara as they produced a stirring 11-under 61 in four-ball format to crown themselves the first Sambalilo Golf Pro-Am champions at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club in Cavinti, Laguna yesterday.

Sara, a six-handicapper, churned out a brilliant nine-birdie stint as he practically steered his partnership with Candinato from two strokes down with a sustained assault on the par-72 layout.

The Davaoeño ace bogeyed the first hole which Candinato saved then went on a birdie spree on Nos. 5, 8 and 9 before stringing four straight from No. 10. He capped his exploits with back-to-back birdies from No. 16 for the team’s 31-30 output.

Counting their 63 in the scramble format last Friday, Candinato and Sara pooled a 20-under 124 total to eclipse erstwhile joint leaders Sean Ramos and Laurea Duque’s 125 aggregate after slowing down with a 64 in best-ball after a 61.

Candinato, a pro from Eastridge where he last played in the local pro circuit many years ago, received the top purse of P100,000 while Sara took home a trophy plus merchandise at the close of the two-day event sponsored by the Municipality of Cavinti in conjunction with the province’s Sambalilo Festival celebrations.

Ramos and Duque’s bid got stymied by a bogey on the par-3 No. 3 as they came up short by one despite a fiery windup of six birdies in the last seven holes on a pair of three-birdie feats from Nos. 12 and 16. Ramos took the P50,000 runner-up prize.

Jay Bayron and Russel Salazar put in the day’s best 59 to share third place at 126 with Orlan Sumcad and Lindsey Salilig, who also fought back with a 60. Arnold Villacencio and Terrence Macatangay matched the Ramos-Duque pair’s 61 in the first day but failed to get up and down on No. 3 and dropped another stroke on the 13th for a 65.

Albin Engino, meanwhile, grabbed the spotlight when he aced No. 7. His teamup with Cavinti Vice Mayor Milbert Oliveros came through with a 61 for joint sixth at 128 with the Rico Depilo and Mike Bolano tandem, which also posted a 61.

Robert Pactolerin and Javi Lazatin also shot a 61 for solo eighth at 129 while Marvin Dumandan and Nolan Lalo combined for a 60 to salvage joint ninth at 130 with Zanieboy Gialon-Romeo Lopez (66), Jun Bernis-Carlo Quimson (66), Dante Becierra-Hiromi Nakamura (67) and Rupert Zaragosa-Precious Zaragosa (68).