Luisita seizes seniors lead, takes six-point cushion to final round

Rodel Mangulabnan fired a one-over-par 73 worth 53 points and led Luisita to a 150 at Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao on Friday as the PAL Senior Interclub championship toasted a new leader for the third straight day with Canlubang dropping to second six points off.

Benjie Sumulong made up for being disqualified in the second round with 50 points, and Demy Saclot chipped in 47 despite being slapped a two-point penalty as the Luisitans take a 424 tally going into Saturday’s final 18 holes at Alta Vista in Cebu.

Cangolf got 48 points from Abe Avena, 47 from Mari Hechanova and 45 from Tommy Manotoc in a second straight 140 and the Sugar Barons would have to go really low with a team built around Abe Rosal in the final day to make a successful defense.

Del Monte got 53 points from Romeo Bautista and 46 from Raul Minoza in a third round 141 for a 408, even as first round leader Cebu Country Club continued its slide with a 129 despite getting 51 points from rookie Eric Deen.

Cebu CC, which made everyone’s head turn on Wednesday, got 40 points from Kim Kwang-seok and 38 from Nelson Yuvallos to fall 22 points off the pace.

Mangulabnan, the reigning national Senior’s champion, had three birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey while seeing action for the second straight day.

Luisita will be spearheaded by Eddie Bagtas in the final round. The former pro scored 48 points the first time he played Alta Vista on Wednesday.