Luisita grabs 15-point PAL lead

DAVAO—Top Luisita gun Eddie Bagtas fired five birdies in a two-under-par 70 worth 56 points at Rancho Palos Verdes here Thursday and towed the Luisitans to a 15-point lead over Del Monte halfway through the Philippine Airlines Interclub Senior championship.

But defending champion Canlubang made a move and stayed mathematically in the title chase, as Rolly Viray fired a career-high, bogey-free 58 to anchor an eye-popping second round 162 that put the Sugar Barons within 18 points off the pace heading into the final 36 holes.

Raffy Garcia matched par for 54 points and Edmund Yee chipped in with 49 as the Luisitans pooled 159. Counting an opening 145 Wednesday at tough-as-nails Apo Golf, they are now at 304. The 43 of Benjie Sumulong was discarded.

Former pro Raul Miñoza fired 52, Titing Callo and Yoyong Velez added 47s as Del Monte remained in second but lost a lot of ground with a 289.

“We’re happy with what we have achieved so far,” non-playing Luisita skipper Jeric Hechanova said, aware that the Sugar Barons have made a charge and are looking to further trim what was a 21-point opening round deficit to manageable level on Friday.

“We are not taking any team for granted. But if we end (the third round) with a 12-point lead, that would be tough for any team (to overhaul),” Hechanova added.

Third-round action will again be at Palos Verdes before the final day is played back at tree-lined Apo Golf the following day, and Canlubang knows exactly what it would take to repeat.

Last year, the Barons wiped out a 12-point deficit in the third round at Mimosa in Pampanga to win, and Canlubang is expected to field in a strong team in order to creep closer and give itself a chance at Apo.

Abe Rosal fired 53 points in his first round in the 55-year-old and above ranks, and Abe Avena fired 51 to make up Cangolf’s second day. The 49 of Rene Unson failed to count.

In Founders play, Orchard Seniors barely held on to the pace after a second day 130 at Apo, as Cebu Country Club, getting 51 points from Montito Garcia, assembled 137 to trim what was an eight-point deficit at the start of the day to one.

Orchard now has a 268 aggregate, with Davao City Golf also shooting a 130 to be at 262 and Pueble de Oro Golf assembling 126 for 261.