Same script: Del Monte grabs lead heading to home course

Rolando Bregente fires tournament- best 39 points to get ball rolling for Del Monte. —PAL PHOTO

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Using a tested formula that gave the squad a chance to sweep the 75th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub golf tournament, Del Monte on Friday took a giant step towards doing that.

With Bukidnon State University sophomore Romeo Bregente firing a three-under-par 69 worth 39 points and teener Cliff Nuñeza bucking a bum start to shoot 38, the Bukidnon-based bets amassed an opening 109 points to zoom to a five-point lead over defending champion Manila Southwoods.

And that gave Del Monte all the momentum it needs with the Championship division battle heading to its playground in Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon for the next two rounds.

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“Will history repeat itself,” playing skipper Yoyong Velez, who was the last man to count with 32 points, asked, referring to their Seniors team squad that he also spearheaded on the way to a breakthrough crown last week.

Eastridge was the surprise pursuer with 104 built around the 36 of Chris Remata and 35 of Jeff Lumbo. The Binangonan squad counted the 33 of Jhondie Quibol, even as Southwoods struggled over what is regarded as the easier layout in the tournament, pooling just 96 to trail by 13.

Cebu Country Club took a one-point lead over Wack Wack in Founders play after 98 points built around the 35 of Jacob Cajita. Jon Alvarez and Harvey Sytiongsa accounted for 33 and 30, respectively.

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Wack Wack got 35 from Perry Bucay and 31s from Theodore de Jesus and Geoffrey Tan for 97, with Forest Hills shooting 95 to be just three points off the pace.

Miko Granada paced Southwoods with 35 points, with Shin Suzuki accounting for 32 and either 29 of Zach Castro or Jun Jun Plana counting.

The Carmona-based squad is expected to field pro-bound ex-nationals Ryan Monsalve and Aidric Chan at Del Monte in order to make a game out of this, as it cannot afford to lose more ground.

Championship division newcomer South Pacific Davao brought up the tail of the compact field after shooting an 83.

The Aviator division battle was also tight, with Camp Aguinaldo shooting 90 points for a two-point lead over Team IMG-Tagaytay Midlands. INQ