Wack Wack surprise leader by 1

Wack Wack surprise leader by 1

CEBU – Wack Wack, with Sammy Sy shooting 32 points and Elphege Wong steady with a 31, took command of the centrepiece Championshio Division of the 68^th Philippine Airlines Interclub as defending champion Orchard struggled at the Club Filipino de Cebu layout in Danao.

Sy shot the equivalent of four-over-par at the ravine-laden, up-and-down layout, boosting the squad to a second day 117 for 241 overall and a shaky one-point lead over the repeat-seeking Cavite-based squad.

Kit Lopez and Ernesto Marcelo contributed 27 apiece for Wack Wack, which discarded the 26 of Augusto de Jesus.

Veteran Rodel Mangulabnan submitted Orchard’s final card of 31 and propelled the team to second after a second round 111. King Stehmeier had checked in with a similar 31 in an earlier group but Orchard seemed to be in big trouble with the 27 of Peter Salvador and 22 of Niko Santiano.

Eric Borromeo, who was disqualified in the first round at Cebu Country Club for signing the wrong scorecard, turned in a 17 and did not count for Orchard.

The mediocre round of Orchard allowed a number of other squads back in the mix, with Southwoods running third just two points behind after 119 built around the 32 of Joseph Tambunting.

Vince Lauron, a former pro, fired 31, Jets Sajulga 29 and Jun Jun Plana 27 to complete scoring for Southwoods, a former tournament power when the likes of Angelo Que, Jerome Delariarte and Artemio Murakami were playing. The 24 of Manfred Guangko did not count.

Cebu CC, which is looking to win this event for the third time in the last four years, is just another two strokes behind after pooling a day-best 126 led by the level par 36 of former pro Mark Dy and the 31 of burly Bayani Garcia.

Eric Deen fired 31 points and Marko Sarmiento 29 for Cebu CC.

“We never expected to be leading this tournament,” said Wong, the team skipper who also shot 31 at Cebu CC on Wednesday. “We will embrace this and face the challenge (of winning).”

Wack Wack assembled this team for the lower Founders Division but got elevated because of the member’s combined PPA (PAL Points Average).

Alabang, meanwhile, scooted out front  in the Founders Division after shooting 121 also at Club Filipino, its 239 tally just two points behind the overall lead. Liam Cully and Philippe Palanca shot 33s with Julio Roa firing 31 and Arnel Paras 24 for Alabang, which now has a seven-point lead over Tagaytay Highlands.

Highlands accounted for 112 second round points built around the 30s of Ferdinand Agustin and Young Jun-oh, and is also seven points clear of Valley Golf, which has 225 after 109 points anchored on the 31s of Luis Laureta and Chino Raymundo.

Socal Red Hawk fired 110 at Cebu CC for 217 and a 17-point lead over Fil-Am Hawaii in the Sportswriters Division. Ferdie Barbosa shot 32 points to lead Socal, while Pat Viernes’ 30 paced Fil-Am Hawaii.

Figme-Dubai stayed on top of the Friendship class and bloated its lead to eight over Brotherhood Sharp after shooting 70 also at Cebu CC. Figme-Dubai now has a 153 aggregate, with Brotherhood Sharp carrying 145 after a 66 and Van City Golf running third at 142 after 63 second round points.

One Mega, People Asia, Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the PAL Interclub Seniors and Regular Men’s events. Other backers include Manila Bulletin, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.(PAL)