Action in the Regulars Fil-Am Golf Invitational..Photo courtesy of Fil-Am Media.
BAGUIO CITY – Defending champion Eastridge-Primehomes Team 1 opened its title retention bid in emphatic fashion, riding the under-par brilliance of Bobe Salahog and Edison Tabalin to post a commanding 141 in the first round of the Fil Championship division of the 75th Januarius Fil-Am Golf Invitational at the John Hay course on Tuesday.
Salahog fired a two-under 67 highlighted by five birdies, including back-to-back conversions on Holes 2 and 3, offsetting three miscues. Tabalin backed him up with a solid one-under 68 spiked by four birdies. Ronel Taga-an (34) and Miko Granada (32) rounded out the team’s scoring cast.
Januarius Golf Team 1 stayed within striking range at 139, powered by Terence Macatangay’s one-under 37 and Chuckie Hong’s steady even-par 36. Coby Rolida added 34 while Jet Mathay chipped in 32. Batangas Barakos-Supremo occupied third with 128, courtesy of Charles Serdenia (35), Henry Bolano and Erik Escalona (32s), and Sean Granada (29).
IMG/SPES tallied 119, while SPES Team 1 finished with 111.
At Baguio Country Club, ECG Primehomes M2 seized control of the Am Championship flight with a 104, anchored by Jared Saban (30) and AJ Wacan (29). Teammates Alexis Gabriel Nailga (25) and Santi Manuel Asuncion (20) completed the squad’s opening push.
Team M trailed by just a point at 103 behind the efforts of Matthew Joseph “Matt” Manotoc (29), Carlo Quimson (26), and the pair of Michael “Mike” Manotoc and Meynard Ko, who shot identical 24s. Eastridge-Primehomes Team 2 sat third with 99, followed by Team CAGC Regulars (95) and John Hay Golf (71).
The week-long tournament, backed by title sponsor Januarius Holdings Inc. and supported by Malbon Phil’s, Toyota, Oroderm, and Mazda, also produced tight battles across various flights.
FIL Division
A Flight – Januarius Ovialand Golf Team 1 (88), Team Brookside 1 (87), X1R Smartscore Team 1 (86)
B Flight – Moto (213), Baguio Country Club 1 (209), Chelus Team 1 (194)
C Flight – Green Water Golfers (94), Eagleridge-Lagitek Intl (91), Fil-Am League of Golfers Chicago 1 (84)
D Flight – Surigao Kyro 1 (96), 3K Immipugo (95), Uruguns Golf Team 1 (90)
E Flight – Baguio Blue Bloods-Eagles (81), Team Kumpadres (78), Ismael CPA (76)
F Flight – Jaco Farm (158), Baguio City Golf (152), Roxas-Isabela (145)
AM Division
A Flight – Valley Golf (94), Riviera Golf (90), Tiyo Paeng/Tsikoy (86)
B Flight – Modern Titos – La Cabrera (167), Alpha Phi Omega GC-Team Omega (165), Masters Golfers (152)
C Flight – FB Bantales Eng’g Const. (74), Team Aquatico (71), El Kapitan (67)
D Flight – Team Phoas of Uraguns (72), Team Mixed Nuts (69), Eternalink (65)
E Flight – Royal Northwoods Team 2 (80), Avanti Transport Services/Laguna Ice 2 (59), Fil-Am League of Golfers Chicago 2 (57), Team Abrown (57)
F Flight – Fil Golfers of Honolulu 2 (129), Surigao Kyro 2 (104), Moto-MLPSI 2 (103)
With momentum clearly on their side, Eastridge-Primehomes Team 1 and ECG Primehomes M2 head into the next round looking to build on strong starts, as the storied Fil-Am Invitational continues to showcase top-caliber competition at the country’s premier mountain courses.
