Bagtas grabs Seniors lead by 4 strokes

MANILA, Philippines — Eddie Bagtas, the most grizzled veteran in the lot, vaulted out front by four strokes over defending champion Abe Avena after firing another two-over-par 74 Thursday in the NGAP’s National Senior Amateur Championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

The 55-year-old Bagtas, who also made his mark as a pro, stood out on a demanding day at the Malipunyo and Lobo nines of the Mount Malarayat course in Lipa City by shooting three birdies against five bogeys for a 148 aggregate that moved him closer to a first title since reverting as amateur at the start of the year.

Avena, the 57-year-old club member who won pulling away from Cebu’s Montito Garcia last year, opened up bogey-bogey and never got going, returning a 78 for 152, just two strokes ahead of another former champ, Dave Hernandez, who shot a 77.

Avena also stumbled with double bogeys on the 6th and 17th holes that helped Bagtas pull away.

Gary Sales, the former teeboy at Villamor who has an interesting rags-to-riches story, fired a 78 and erected a two-shot lead over Jeck Mendoza in the Mid-Am side of the tournament backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

The 36-year-old Sales, who also campaigned in the professional ICTSI Tour two years ago, birdied the last two par-5s for a back nine 35 for 155 and stayed  ahead of Mendoza, who shot a 157.

Rudy Amata, the Luisita standout in the PAL Interclub like Bagtas, fired a 77 like teammate Francis Gaston. They are now at 155 and 156, respectively, and would need truly spectacular final rounds to pull this one out.