South boosts The Duel lead to 6 points

MANILA, Philippines — As expected, the powerhouse South side will take a sizeable lead going into the singles matches of The Duel 3-North vs South  after dominating the second day action of the local Ryder Cup-style matches Thursday at Cebu Country Club.

Jonel Ababa posted two more wins with former Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador in spearheading another solid show that boosted the Southerners to an 11-5 lead going into the singles matches today.

Only  a major collapse—like what happened last year at Alabang where temperamental star Juvic Pagunsan abandoned the squad—will prevent the South from regaining the title it won two years ago.

Ababa and Salvador downed the Carl Santos-Ocampo-Ryan Lam pair, 2 and ,1 in the morning four-ball before returning in the afternoon for the foursomes where Salvador canned a 13-foot putt for par on the 18th to preserve a 1-up win over Randy Garalde-Benjie Magada.

Cassius Casas was also unscathed in three matches, partnering with Elmer Saban in posting a 4 and 3 win over Mars Pucay and Angelo Que, and Jessie Balasabas and Mark Fernando combined to rip Carl Santos-Ocampo and Jun Rates, 5 and 4, for the third of South’s victories in the afternoon.

Michael Bibat and Gerald Rosales averted a foursomes’ shutout for the North by holding off Marvin Dumandan and Clyde Mondilla, 2-up.

Antonio Lascuña joined hands with fellow Davao native Dumandan in the morning to trounce Bibat and Rosales, 3 and 1, that gave the Southerners an 8-4 lead going into the afternoon matches.

The North’s only win in the morning came from the partnership of Miguel Tabuena and Rates, which carved out a hard-fought 2 and 1 win over Charles Hong and Frankie Miñoza.

Other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Pacsports, Srixon, Callaway, Sharp, FootJoy, Mizuno, Callaway and Custom Clubmakers with Balls, ABS-CBN Sports+Action and Inquirer Golf as media partners.  Musong R. Castillo