BAGUIO—Coming up with a balanced attack, led by Jet Mathay’s outstanding 40 points, Januarius Private Equity on Tuesday scored a spectacular 149 points to vault into a 10-point lead at the start of the Fil Championship in the 74th Januarius Fil Am Invitational at Camp John Hay.
Manila Southwoods, which is going for a 10th-straight victory in this premier division, and Eastridge were lodged at second with 139s.
Mathay went on a birdie spree, making seven overall that offset a lone bogey on No. 5 and a pick up on No. 3 to finish with a four-under 65 worth 40 points. Kirby Lachica and Ayon Sanchez also turned in impressive 37 apiece while new recruit Masa Otake added 35 for Januarius, which ended up at third place last year.
The Januarius mainstay did not expect to score well as he went two-over in five holes. He got to even par with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9. After a par on the 10th, he engineered a string of three birdies from Nos. 11 to 13 and another on 17 to seal that 40.
“My game plan was to be too aggressive to attack. Then my putting got going which made the difference actually,” Mathay explained.
“They played well and kept their composure. We expect other teams to play better in the next three days,” said Januarius team manager Paolo Cagalingan.
Manila Southwoods didn’t do badly with an opening 139. Miko Granada, an accomplished junior golfer, took the lead role as he made 37 and Fil-British Enrique Dimayuga, a rookie in the Fil Am, accounted for an even par 36. Shinichi Suzuki and Jett Hernandez contributed 34 and 32 for the team’s first day 139 output.
Despite the early deficit, Southwoods captain Thirdy Escaño is not worried at all.
“We are down but not out. First day palang so it’s still a long way to go. It was not a good start and one of our players, Shinichi Suzuki, suffered a back injury on the fourth hole but went on to finish the round. I am sure the guys will be back tomorrow (today),” Escaño said.
Over at Baguio Country Club, Batangas Barakos assembled 122 points to pace the Am Championship flight. Erik Escalona produced 34, Charles Serdeña 31, Gerald Katigbak 29 and Eric Gozo 28.
Sec. Mark “Dong” Mendoza skipped today’s opener, but sent this message before the game: “Play well and enjoy the weather and company and friendship with other golfers, which is the true essence of the Fil Am.”
At 114, Eastridge Team-2 is currently at second. Edison Tabalin, one of the country’s top amateurs, submitted a 34. Other scorers were Gary Sales 28, Chris Emata 27 and Richard Joson 26.
Championship Scores:
FIL – Januarius Private Equity 149, Manila Southwoods 139, Eastridge 139, SPES-1 139, Time Cargo-1 117
Am – Batangas Barakos 122, Eastridge 114, Manila Southwoods-2 113, Januarius Truespec 101, Valley Golf 82