BAGUIO CITY —AAA Agri slowed down at the Baguio Country Club and collected 77 points to push its three-day total to 279 for a 14-point lead in Am F in the 68th Department of Tourism Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.
Rico Cajili top-scored for the team, which is 14 up on Gatorade 845 and another 14 on NBI Team 157, even as Luisita Golf and Country Club pits its longer hitting players against Manila Southwoods as play shifts at the longer Camp John Hay course starting Wednesday in the event presented by San Miguel Corp.
“We are confident when games move to CJH because our players are much longer (hitters),” said team captain and Luisita Golf manager Jeric Hechanova as they stare at a one-point lead, 234-233, against the Carmona, Cavite team.
“We feel we could take advantage (at the par-69 CJH course),” said Hechanova, who 20 years ago started the Southwoods’ team that has eventually dominated the regular Fil-Am.
This time, Hechanova hopes to shape up a Luisita’s team that could yet be the major force in amateur play with his team trying to earn a grand slam in amateur competition after winning the PAL Interclub earlier this year.
“We hope to pad the lead at CJH,” he added, confident of his players’ capability including former pro Eddie Bagtas.
“Eddie could play better now since he can now use a golf cart because he has a bad right foot the past days and has a difficulty walking,” said Hechanova of his top man, who scored a measly 27 and 28 at the par-61 BCC outlay.
Bagtas has been outshot by fellow former pro Raul Minoza, who leads the individual race with 71 points after shooting an even par for 36 and 35 in the first two days, 16 points up on the burly former Philippine seniors champion.
“He’ll score better than the 28, and he promised to do so,” he added of Bagtas.
But man to man, Hechanova is confident that the rest of his players will deliver and outperform the 2nd to fifth players of Southwoods.
“They really only have one man and the tournament is four to count,” he said,
“We just need neutralize or keep (Minoza) at a distance and let the other players do the works,” he said.
His Am team goes to the BCC carrying a “big” nine-point lead over co-host CJH.
With a 237 total and a nine-point advantage, Hechanova goes to BCC knowing that the CJH players have always been playing bad at the shorter course.
“We are really fortunate to get a lead at (CJH’s) home and now we are going to BCC where their players do not play that good (there),” he said.
Meanwhile, Ian Arcilla of Glutamex Man scored the tournament’s first sub par game when he submitted a two-under 67 for 38 points at the CJH course as the team wrested back the lead from Club Intramuros in Fil.
Arcilla practically carried the brunt for Glutamex, which made 89 points for 248 points and a point off Intramuros. The overnight leader made 84 points after a flight-best 91 at BCC the previous day.
A distant third is Quickflo Tabcon, which matched Intramuros’ 84 for 222.
IGC Travellers got 25 points from Ferdinand Casasola for a flight best 75 and 218 and seize a four shot lead on two-day leader Leopard Enterprises LMG which made 59 points. IGC Tugegarao is another two shot down after firing 66 points.
John Marasigan shot 23 points and EK Amigo made 76 for three day total of 266 and watch its 20 point lead cut to a manageably eight points with a round remaining.
Veteran Golf Club submitted the flight best 88 and 258 total, 14 up on third ranked Team Best Western—Subic.