With Jimmy Domingo and Jae Yang holding fort, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club threatened to pull away by assembling 118 points in the founders’ division of the 61st Philippine Airlines Interclub at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin, Murcia.

Domingo negotiated the fast greens well and bucked strong winds and the sporadic drizzle to submit 32 points --- a 4-over par 74 in medal play --- to spearhead Marapara’s drive, while Yang, the reigning club champion, backstopped with 31.

Max Javelona added 28 points and Chris Infante posted 27. Ray Lim’s 23 markers did not count.

But as far as NOGCC skipper Kokoy Locsin was concerned, it was mission accomplish for Marapara at Binitin.

“The players are starting to become more comfortable,” he said, after Marapara hiked its tally to 227 points and open a 12-point spread against Cebu Country Club. 

The defending champion Cebuanos groped for form at the narrow, up-and-down layout and settled for 107 points for 215. Philippine Navy registered 110 points yesterday to be in third with a 213 total, followed by Orchard 212 and Palos Verdez 204. 

Locsin said he will field a “strong team” today and a “steady team” on Saturday. Gerardo De Leon scored 30 points, Francis Gaston added 29, Chepe Dulay and Jimmy Feliciano made 27 and 23 Wednesday.

“We could add 3 or more 4 points in tomorrow’s round,” he predicted.

In the third tier sportswriters division, Bacolod climbed to fourth, after Jake Tan, Lorenzo Lacson, Alan Magallanes and Panyo Torre pooled 98 points for a 185 aggregate.

Iloilo emerged the surprise leader with a fiery 120-point effort that raised its tally to 212, ahead of Villamor (216) and Alta Vista (201).

Victorias also moved up in the friendship division as Rene Querubin, Roy Quima, Daryl Patrimonio and Eric Golez joined forces for 83 points. Counting its 64-point output Wednesday, Victorias has 147 points for second place, behind Fil-Am Hawaii (160).

Barring a monumental breakdown, Canlubang looks all set of claiming a third straight championship division crown after opening up a 26-point spread over Manila Southwoods and Del Monte at the Marapara layout.

An anti-climactic finish is once again in the offing as Mario Labajo made up for a so-so 32 points in Binitin with a scintillating 3-under par 67 for 39 points yesterday and local bet Joey Huerva played steady to finish with an even-par round for 36 points.

Rufino Bayron turned in a 32 and Joseph Labajo added 30 as the Laguna-based squad assembled 137 points to close in on a double hat-trick, after its senior’s team won a third straight crown Sunday.

The huge lead has given Cangolf owner Luigi Yulo the cue to say that the championship is already in the bag.

“The boys played very well today and with a 24-point spread, well, I think it’s all over,” Yulo told reporters. “It’s all over.”

But Southwoods skipper Thirdy Escano is not about to throw the towel just yet.

“Twenty four are big numbers, but personally I still believe we have a chance,” Escano said

Southwoods limped home with 116 points with Anthony Fernando the only player breaking the 30-point plateau.

Fernando finished the round with a 1-over for 35 points, while Il-Jun Chin and Jun Jun Plana came up with 28 and 27, respectively.

Lacking practice in the course he grew up in, Southwoods bet Justin Limjap, who was Labajo’s flightmate, skied to a 10-over equivalent to 26 points.

The 21-year-old Limjap, who is coming off an impressive showing in the National Inter-Collegiate golf league, played good approach shots but had trouble nailing his putts.

Southwoods’ nightmarish outing allowed Del Monte to tie them at second, after the Mindanao squad registered 120 points to add to its tally of 123 on day 1.*CPT

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