BAGUIO CITY—Edmund Yee shot a tournament-high two-under 67 for 38 points to power Manila Southwoods to 134 and a four-shot lead on defending champion San Miguel-Northern Cement and start their bid in the seniors’ Fil Championship of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational Tournament at the Camp John Hay golf course Sunday on a high note.
Yee had three birdies at the par-five first hole, the par-3 11th and par-4 dog-legged 14th against a lone bogey at the par-3 eighth for the tournament’s best score so far, to tow the many-time former champions to the top of the four-team top flight.
Former pro Raul Minoza had a 34 and a pair of 31s from Chang Duk Jung and Kui Sun Moon, while the 26 of Cipriano Abdon did not count in the five-to-play, four-to-count event presented by San Miguel.
That gives the Carmona, Cavite-based parbusters a four -shot lead on defending champion San Miguel, which got a pair of 33s from Jingky Tuason and Chito Laureta, while former pro Eddie Bagtas and Benjie Sumulong fired a similar 32 to count for the team.
Megafiber, the 2013 champion, was another four shots down with 126 after getting a 34 from Rolly Viray, identical 33s from Jose Mari Hechanova and Rene Unson, while Tony Olives added a 26.
Meanwhile, 2014 champion was another eight shots down with 118 with a two-over 71 for 34 points from Douglas Puckett, a 30 from Goodie Ignacio, a 28 from Park Jong Won, and a similar 26 from Ed Montenegro.
Edgar Lee, Noel Marcelino and Ed Rendon shot 28 points at the shorter par-61 Baguio Country Club golf course for 111 points as Dugong Bughaw opened with a seven shot lead on Manila Southwoods in Am Championship.
Marlon Soriano chipped in 27, while Ed Rendon shot a 26 and did not count in the event backed by Toyota, Petron, Magnolia, SMC Global Power, Northern Cement, San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Manor at Camp John Hay, Forest Lodge, Empire, CJH Development Corporation, Baguio Country Club, Le Chef,and the CJH Trade and Cultural Center, and Mizuno.
Brian Park shot 31 points and lead Southwoods to 104 points. Alexander Ignacio and Daniel Samaniego made 25 points, while Frumencio Deguito added 23 points to count for the team which a carries a two shot lead on San Miguel – Northern Cement I which got 29 points from Rudy Amata.
San Miguel had 26 points from former John Hay golf manager Jeric Hechanova, 24 from Bobby Inigo and 23 from Lino Magpantay. Forest Hills had 94 points to take fourth spot after B & Y Utopia was penalized with two points to end up with 93.
Nueva Ecija Seniors is at sixth with 89, Megafiber at seventh with 86 and Okinawa golf is eighth with 84.