Mizuno extends lead in CJH golf tilt; return to top nears

BAGUIO CITY- Mizuno Superstars yesterday became more serious in its quest to a return to the top podium as it extended its lead at the Camp John Hay golf course with a round remaining in the San Miguel 64th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.

King Stehmeier led two other Mizuno players in scoring 34 points as the 2011 champion virtually deposed Forest Hills as Fil-Championship titlist and with Team Sparta losing some step as the teams shifted to the longer and relatively "easier" CJH course.

                

Ray Sangil and Justin Limjap produced the same output and Ace Stehmeier added 29 as Mizuno made 131 points and 373 and doubled its lead over Team Sparta to 14.

                

Team Sparta collected 124 points from the 33 of Tonton Asistio, the pair of 31s from Edwin Temena and Rading Decepida and 29 from Thirdy Escano as Sparta may just console itself with a second place finish with its 359.

                

Manila Southwoods made 120 points for a 338 total to move past deposed champion Forest Hills which made   106 and 331 aggregate.

                

Sparta's Asistio remains on top of the individual race with 99 and a five shot lead on King Stehmeier.

Ray Blas had 31 and power Che'lus to 111 as the Guamanians blasted its way to the top. With the 29 of Mike Castro, the 27 of Robert Manalo and 24 from Jacky Barfield, Che'lus tallied 334 and carries a two shot lead on overnight leader BatangasBarako which made 105 and 332 total.

                

First round leader Mizuno Superstars found BCC a tougher course as it faded with 98 and 322 total.

Northwood Pacsports could yet catch on the trophy train when it made 96 and 319 aggregate for fourth spot.

                

Jeff Bernaldez of Villa Cacho, who opened with a four under 40, bounced back with 32 for 97 points and a two shot lead on Mike Castro Che'lus.

                

Team Surigao closed with a 103 to finish with a 404 and an eight shot victory in Fil-B. With the 29 of Martin Guiang, 26 of former Department of Tourism secretary Ace Barbers, 25 from Ed Lopez and 24 of Bong Alcantara, the Mindanao based team took an eight shot win on Ultra Flite Golf I which finished with 103 and 396.  Batman came in third with 102 and 394.

Wolf Simandl had a 28 and 107 total to edge local boy Chester Calpotura for the individual crown by a mere point. The latter had a closing 26.

                

Ultra Flite GC I had a pair of 26s from Allan Rubrica and Cocoy Sulaik, and a pair of 20s from Macky Mending and Sonny Ongtao for the team's closing 86 and 387 for a 28 shot victory in Am B.

                

Che'lus finished second with an 86 and 359, while Rural Bankers I came in third after a 79 and 354 tally.

Rubrica made it doubly sweet for Ultra Flite after getting the individual title with his 107 after a 23 and edge team mate Sulaik by two.

                

The Fil-Am is also sponsored by: BCC, The Manor, Camp John Hay Development Corporation, Thunderbird, Forest Lodge, Le-Chef, GPS Tracker, The Residence at Brent, University of Baguio, North Luzon Expressway, Rizgolf and Alveo.