CEBU CITY—Eddie Bagtas reprised his role as spearhead of Luisita’s come-from-behind win last year, scoring 54 points Thursday to lift the defending champion squad from Tarlac to an eight-point lead over Canlubang at the start of the Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors golf team tournament here.
Playing at the flat Mactan Golf Club, the Luisitans collected 137 points with Rudy Amata adding a 43 and Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia chipping in 40. Roxas Chua Severino did not count with 39.
Ruing the absence of national seniors champion Abe Avena, Canlubang could only assemble 129 behind a pair of 44s by Jose Mari Hechanova and Dave Hernandez and the 41 of Bing Bunye.
At third was Cebu Country Club with 126, followed by Orchard with 117.
“The course was difficult. I just got lucky,” said Bagtas in Filipino.
A former pro who debuted in the 55-and-above division last year, Bagtas built his hot start around birdies on three of the four par-5 holes. He added two more birds to nullify a double bogey and three bogeys.
Hechanova had four double bogeys and six bogeys against four birdies for Canlubang, which is expected to field returning star Tommy Manotoc today.
Over at Club Filipino de Cebu, Eagle Ridge and Pueblo de Oro each fired 133 points to share the lead in the Founders’ division. Ernesto A. Gonzales
Tournament sponsors: Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror, GE Aviation.
Other backers: Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.
The results:
Championship—Luisita 137, Canlubang 129, Cebu Country Club 126, Orchard 117, Alta Vista 117, Manila Golf 114, Socal Redhawk 106, Victorias 99, SF Crystal Spring 93, Fil-Am Fairfield 91, Club Filipino de Cebu 89, PGAQ 59, Socal Redhawk 36,
Founders—Eagle Ridge 133, Pueblo de Oro 133, Coral Ocean Point Saipan 129, Camp John Hay 129, Negros Occidental 125, Valley 124, Mactan Island 124, Camp Evangelista 122, Manila Southwoods 121, Rancho Palos Verdes 118, Navy 117, Riviera 116, Villamor 115, Wack Wack 115, Apo 114, Fil-Am Hawaii 111, Maharlika 103, Davao City Golf 99, Lanang 76, Bay City Golf Club Alameda 75
Sportswriters—Del Monte Seniors 108, Mabuhay Golf Club of San Francisco 101, Taotao Muna 99, Club 1872 Los Angeles 99, Bacolod Golf 98, Zamboanga 96, Cotabato 93, Forest Hills 91, San Juanico 90, Iligan 89, UP Tee Jots 88, Iloilo Golf 87, MSU Golf 86, South Cotabato 85, PGA British Columbia 84, Travelers Golf Club of San Francisco 84, South Bay Golf 84, Baguio Country Club 83, Sarangani Golf 82, Brookside 82, Dil-Am (SFO) 81, Guinhalaran Golf 81, Austral Asian Golf Melbourne 79, Vancity Golf 76, Lumbia Golf 66, Sienna Plantation 66, Bay Area Golf 62, Phil Am Golf of Central Florida 59, Paoay Golf 55, Tri City Golf 32,
Friendship—Guam Seals 108, Pinoy Vancouver Golf Club 96, Mt. Malindang 87, Canphil Golf Association 83, Moffet Field 82, Brotherhood Sharp 81, Leyte Golf 80, Bennet Valley 76, Fil Oz Sydney 76, West Covina Warrior 76, Parbreakers Golf of British Columbia Canada 71, SF Penunsala Int’l 68, Greater Vancouver Association 68, Skywest Seniors 67, Guam Seniors 66, Pittsburg Fil-Am Seniors 65, Winners Circle Golf 59, Sand Baggers of Vancouver 46, SF Alliance 33