2 pairs share Meralco Nat’l Doubles golf tourney lead

The Rupert Zaragosa-JP De Claro partnership fired an eagle-spiked 3-under-par 69 yesterday to tie the AR Ramos-Miggy Yee combination for the lead after the opening round of the Meralco National Doubles Amateur (Closed) championship at Wack Wack’s West course.

Zaragosa-De Claro eagled the par-5 seventh while Ramos-Yee gunned down three straight birds from the 13th in the two-ball format to share top spot.

Jobim Carlos, who formed half of last year’s winning team with Raymond Gonzales, fired a 71 with the seasoned Jonar Austria to trail by two shots heading into today’s four-ball (best ball) second round.

The event, sponsored by Meralco, is the last leg of the Globe Business Amateur Circuit organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Jik-Jik Abdon and Chris Jordan fired a two-over 74 with the Justin Quiban-RJ Talud pair salvaging a 76 to tie top jungolfer Gabriel Manotoc-Gonzales at fifth.

Lawrence Celestino, who won the Philex NGAP Northern Luzon tilt recently, and partner Kenneth Kano struggled with a 79.

Paolo Uy and Patrick Uy combined for a 76 to post a one-shot lead over Kristoffer Arevalo and Raymart Tolentino in Group II of the event also serving as tune-up for next year’s Philippine Amateur Open golf championship slated Jan. 7 to 10 also at Wack Wack.

Mia Legaspi, one of the country’s top jungolfers, teamed up with Felicia Medalla to shoot a 75 and tie Sam Martirez-Marvi Monsalve for the women’s division lead in the tournament sponsored by Pancake House, Titleist by Empire Golf, Pacsports and Golf Depot.

Fancied women’s bets Princess Superal and Daniella Uy struggled and limped home with an 82.