By Adrian Flores
Baguio—Luisita rode on the 35 points of Benjie Sumulong and 30 of Marty Ilagan to start the Fil-Championship division with a four-point lead against Manila Southwoods in the seniors play of the 72nd Fil-Am Men’s Invitational held at the Camp John Hay Golf Club.
And counting the 29 each from Dan Cruz and Rodel Mangulabnan, Luisita assembled 123 points in the tournament, which is regarded as the world’s largest amateur team championship.
Manila Southwoods is a close second with 121 as Raul Minoza had 34, Jun Plan made 30, Theody Pascual shot 29 and Manfred Guangko added 28.
Although his team is in the driver’s seat, playing captain Sumulong said that his wards could have scored better if not for the 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. 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,” Sumulong said.
Riviera is a distant third with 111 followed by Mamala Bay 106 and Leeward Filam of Hawaii 92.
