Sports Briefs

Unheralded Villanueva forges 3-way tie for lead

LIPA City, Batangas—Dino Villanueva bucked harsh conditions and carded a 67, forcing a three-way tie for the lead with Thai Sutijet Kooratanapisan and Erwin Arcillas in a windy opener of the Summit Point World 18 Challenge Wednesday.

Villanueva charged back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 then preserved a 33-34 card with two scrambling pars in the last four to catch Kooratanapisan and Arcillas at the helm, one stroke ahead of Elmer Salvador.

Salvador sizzled with a frontside birdie-birdie finish for a 68.

The veteran Davaoeño campaigner anchored his 33-35 card on solid iron play, hitting all but one green.

This year’s Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Jobim Carlos also rebounded from an opening hole bogey with four birdies, including three at the back, to shoot a 69 for a share of fifth with American Brett Munson and Richard Sinfuego.

Micah Shin failed to join the group with a bogey on No. 17, dropping to joint eighth instead.

Sunrise Sprint spices up Black Arrow 5150

Sunrise Sprint, a short swim-bike-run event for beginners seeking to immerse themselves into the sport of triathlon, will spice up the action in the inaugural Black Arrow Express 5150 on Nov. 4 at Subic Bay.

A big hit in its inaugural season, the Sunrise Sprint, dubbed S2, is back with a promise of a more exciting edition featuring 273 participants in the 750m open-water swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run race.

The organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. has put up the event for triathlon wannabes who want to race without having to worry about long periods of training.

IronKids stalwart Wacky Baniqued banners the cast in the side event of the Black Arrow Express 5150, which has recently inked a three-year contract with SEI to stage the 5150 races. Eight elite pros, meanwhile, head the 627 participants in the main event.