BACOLOD – Holding fort on yet another trying day on a different course, Luisita on Friday played according to pre-tournament hype and occupied a very familiar position in the PAL Seniors Interclub championship.
The veteran Eddie Bagtas fired a two-over-par 72 worth 52 points and led the defending champion Luisitans to a second round 149 at windswept Binitin in Murcia town to lead his squad in wresting a two-point lead over a game Canlubang crew.
Raffy Garcia accounted for 50 and Chito Laureta assembled 47 as Luisita displayed the depth of its roster to take a 295 aggregate going into the third round Saturday also at Binitin.
Cangolf, which sizzled with 150 points over the tougher Marapara layout on Thursday, hobbled with a 143 built around the 49 of Dave Hernandez and the 48 of Abe Avena.
The Sugar Barons didn’t count the 45 of Mari Hechanova. Chino Raymundo, meanwhile, didn’t count for the second straight round for the Luisitans with 45.
Fielding in the final two days will be critical as both teams can opt for powerhouse teams to come out on Saturday or, save their respective best for last when the final round is played on Sunday at Marapara.
“We were fortunate to come out on top of this one,” Luisita non-playing skipper Jeric Hechanova said. “The winds were blowing hard all round. The final two days will definitely be a grind (for both teams).”
For all intents and purposes, the centerpiece division has now officially boiled down to a two-team race with Del Monte now 30 points off the pace after a second round 133 built around the 47 points of former pro Raul Minoza.
Canlubang opened up with brothers Abe and Pem Rosal on Thursday and could opt for both or either of the final two days.
Abe is the defending individual champion and could lose his chances of a repeat should the Sugar Barons decide to play him on Sunday at the same course.
Damasus Wong was the best scorer in the opening round for the Sugar Barons with 51.
Jingy Tuason, Rodel Mangulabnan and Edmund Yee sat out in the second round and are available for either of the final two days like Bagtas, who had three birdies against a double bogey and three bogeys for the best individual round in the Championship Division.
Meanwhile, Cebu Country Club stayed atop the Founders Division after pooling 132 points at Marapara for 272 overall and a five-point lead over Alabang.