It’s the position they want to be in but Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club skipper Kokoy Locsin is far from satisfied.

Exploiting its knowledge of the course, Marapara posted 109 points yesterday and hung on to a precarious one-point lead in the Founders’ division of the 61st Philippine Airlines Interclub in Bacolod City.

Locsin, however, feels his team failed to make the most out of its home-course advantage.

“We are leading because the other teams are also not playing well,” the Marapara skipper told the DAILY STAR. “I expected them to score better at an average of 3 points or more from each player. I expected them to score around 120-125 rang”.

Gerardo De Leon turned in the best score for NOGCC with 30 points, equivalent to a 6-over par 76 in medal play.

Former national amateur champion Francis Gaston backed him up with 29, while teenager Chepe Dulay and Jimmy Feliciano submitted 27 and 23 markers, respectively.

Jun B Bantug’s 21 points did not count in this five-to-play, four-to-count format.

Hot on Marapara’s heels is four-peat seeking Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf with identical 108 points. Laguna-based Sta. Elena Golf is fourth with 107, followed by Tagaytay Highlands with 104. 

With play shifting to the narrow, up-and-down Bacolod Golf and Country Club layout today, Locsin is tapping NOGCC champion Jae Yang, Chris Infante, Max Javelona, Jimmy Yusay and Ray Lim.

The championship division is also shaping up into a tight contest with two-time defending champion Canlubang, slapped with a two-point deduction, taking a slim three-point cushion against Manila Southwoods after the first round at Binitin.

As expected, Binitin boy Joey Huerva, playing for Canlubang, justified his inclusion to the formidable squad with a 2-over par 72, equivalent to 34 points as the Sugar Barons finished the day with 130 points.

Jhonel Ababa, a former national caddies champion, also tamed the tough layout, shooting an even-par 70 for 36 points that earned him the lead in individual play.

The lead could have been five points for Canlubang had 18-year-old rookie Zanie Gialon did not violate rule 14 on pick up. Gialon inadvertently signed a double-bogey on his scorecard on a par-4 hole. Gialon was not supposed to sign the scorecard since he did not have any points on the hole. The rule is applied to speed up play.

Huerva opened up with a birdie on the par-4 No. 1 but bogeyed the next hole, ending up with 18 points at the front nine. Bogeys on 10, 14 and 17 spoiled what could have been an auspicious start, although he managed to birdie the 16th good for 3 points that propelled him to 16 markers on the last nine holes.

Ababa also strengthened his bid for individual honors, highlighting his round with birdies on 5, 13 and 14. Two bogeys on the front nine, however, dampened his bid in breaking par.

Mario Labajo added 32 points and Peter Villaber came up with 30 to complete the scoring for Canlubang, which needs to win the men’s crown to achieve a double-three peat, following the victory of its senior’s squad Sunday.

Bouyed by Gene Bondoc’s 35, Southwoods tallied 127 points. Tonton Asistio scored 34, while Jun Jun Plana and Benjie Sarmiento added 31 and 27, respectively.

Southwoods is expected to make its move today with De La Salle standout Justin Limjap, who started his career at Marapara, seeing at NOGCC. Limjap’s father, Joemarie, hinted that Justin, fresh from his conquests in the National Inter-Collegiate Golf League, may play all of his rounds at Marapara.

The tournament is supported by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines and Solar Sports. The major backers are Action Asia, Business Mirror, Crossover, PACSPORTS and Royal Caribbean. Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia and RMN are the corporate sponsors with Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik and Patio Pacific Boracay as other backers.*CPT        

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