By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES
It must have felt like home as Cebu Country Club-A fired 281 points on day one of the 9th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub to set the pace in the premiere Championship division at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Pardo, Cebu City.
Lois Kaye ‘LK’ Go led the Cebuanas with an opening round of one-over-par 53 points in the Molave System. Mary Kim Hong fired two-over-par 52 to provide the solid support.
Go’s round was highlighted by four birdies during the round. Her first was made on the 3rd then she had three straight from the 8th to the 10th.
Others who counted in the eight-to-play, six-to-count format were Junia Gabasa with 47, Stephanie Olea and Crystal Faith Superal with 44 apiece and Jyra Mae Wong with 41.
The 40 points of skipper Catrina Martinez and the 30 of Hannah Jayne Wong did not count.
At second is defending champion Manila Southwoods Masters with 274 points.
Those who counted for the team were Sofia Chabon 51, Annika Cedo 48, Sofia Angela Legaspi 46, Lora Roberto 45, Christine Valdehueza 43, and team captain Bernadette Abiera 41.
Marie Claire Ong had 37, which did not count.
At third is Del Monte of Bukidnon with 249 points courtesy of Pamela Mariano (53), Rainstar Roque (50), Martina Miñoza (42), Rhea Langgamin (38), Annika Mendoza (34), and Starlyn Roque (32). The other team members were Maria Isabel San Miguel (19) and Roslyn de Pedro (10).
Host Alta Vista, which is also debuting in this tournament, fired a total of 228 points.
Ericka Lim, the club’s reigning ladies champion, carded two-over-par 52 points to lead the host squad. Others who contributed were Mikylah Marie Crystal with 48, her twin sister Gabrielle Marie Crystal with 40, 11-year-old Wei Fang Gao with 32, Choi Yi Hwa with 31, and skipper Marina Kaufmann with 27.
Annika Yeo fired 25 points and Sol Pasion had 20, which did not count.
Alta Vista finished with a total of 230 but was penalized two points after Choi holed out for a triple-bogey on the par-3 6th.
The tournament rules state that players must pick-up after playing for double-bogey.
Teams for the premiere class will play their final round on Saturday.
SPORTSWRITERS DIVISION
Tagaytay Highlands leads this third-ranked group with an opening round of 212 points courtesy of Sun Kim Hee (41), Virginia Bote (35), Maria Rosario Dimson (35), Hedy Gaisano See (34), Bernadette Wong (34), and Rosalie Heo (33). Imelda Leyeza made 23 and Maria Marlene Varua had 21, which did not count.
At second is Bacolod Golf Club with 181 points. Those who scored yesterday were Jocel Pagunsan (36), Madonna Nomo (32), Sharon Cho (31), Farrah de Asis (30), Cherry Pink silva (30), and Grace Bañas (22). Sonnie Montelibano’s 15 did not count.
At third spot is Apo Golf of Davao with 174 points courtesy of Gemmamarie Bokawachi (34), Mereanne Siason (34), Imelda Garcia (32), Lilibeth Crisologo (28), Cecil Co (25), and Aalia Labrador (21).
Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club is one point behind.
FRIENDSHIP DIVISION
In this fourth-ranked category, Davao City Golf Club appears headed for a runaway victory after opening with 210 points.
The team had Roselyn Sara (38), Virginia Hemiston (36), skipper Josephine Vergara (35), JM Balbuena (34), Stella Barnes (34), and Evelyn Quinsay (33) counting for the team total. The other members of the team are Rosalie Antivo (30) and Wennie Dixon (22).
Running second is Wack Wack with 158 points courtesy of Alice Jay Crisologo (40), Charlene Abalos (34), Sofia Araneta (25), Margaret Tan (21), Deeanna Mendiola (19), and Tessa Taira (19).
Camp Aguinaldo is at third with 152 points courtesy of Jocelyn Untal (40), Janeth Agripa (26), skipper Leonora Cabili (24), Ruby Hamis (24), Edlyn Robas (22), and Barbara Cruz (18).
Action in the second-ranked Founders will start Friday.
