BENJAMIN SUMULONG scored 35 points while Martin Ilagan added 30 as Luisita opened a two-point lead over Manila Southwoods at the start of the Fil-Championship division of the 72nd Fil-Am Men’s invitational at the Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City Sunday.
Luisita also got solid support from Danilo Cruz and Rodel Mangulabnan, who each had 29s, for the team output of 123 points.
Manila Southwoods assembled 121 on the 34 of Raul Miñoza, 30 of Junjun Plana, 29 of Theody Pascual and 28 of Manfred Guangko.
Playing captain Sumulong said they could have scored better if not for first-day jitters.
“We haven’t had a competition as big as this in the last three years. Everybody is adapting to team play again,” Sumulong said. “We just have to keep grinding, especially in the last two rounds at the short but tricky Baguio Country Club, where the real scoring battle is.”
Riviera was a distant third with 111 followed by Mamala Bay 106 and Leeward Filam of Hawaii 92.
In the Am-A division, Bibak NY/NJ iGolfers collected 79 points for a front-running 160 total in two rounds. Herbert Donglasan led all scorers with 34, while Diman Felipe, Ramon Gaoat and John Dangos had 18, 15 and 12, respectively.
At second spot was Pradera Verde (81-151) with Willy Cabalce scoring 24, Bobby Inigo 23, Butch Bakunawa 18 and Jojo Mercado 16.