Eastridge surges behind Quibol’s 45

Jhondie Quibol sparkled with a jaw-dropping 45 points to lead Eastridge-Primehomes Team 1’s second-round charge that vaulted the Binangonan-based club to the top of the Fil-Championship division in the 74th Fil-Am Invitational at Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City on Wednesday.

Quibol, one of the rising talents from Davao City, eagled the par-4 ninth hole and collected eight birdies against a lone bogey to shoot a nine-under-par 60 in stroke play, one shot short of the magical 59.

Eastridge, hoping to improve on its runner-up finish last year, also drew subpar efforts from Ronel Taga-an, who fired 39, and Bobe Salahog and Rolando Bregente who each had 37 points to assemble a spectacular 158 points.

The output could go down as one of the best single-round efforts in Fil-Am history.

On 297, Eastridge leads Southwoods by five points going into the final two rounds at the treacherous Baguio Country Club.

Defending champion Manila Southwoods also made its move, posting 153 points, a 14-point improvement from the first round.

Jet Hernandez led Southwoods with 40 points and got solid support from Shinichi Suzuki (39), Enrique Dimayuga (38), and Miko Granada (36).

First-round leader Januarius Private Equity slipped to third with 289, eight points off the pace.

Januarius collected 140 from Terence Macatangay 37, Ayon Sanchez 36, Masaichi Otake 34, and Kirby Lachica 33.

In the Am-Championship, Batangas Barakos took a slim one-point lead over Manila Southwoods Team 2 after two rounds at the BCC course.

Batangas carded 112 points to improve to 234 while Southwoods tallied 120 points. Trailing in third spot was Eastridge-Primehomes Team 2 with 229 points.

Standings in the Fil and Am championship divisions:

Fil-CH — Eastridge-Primehomes Team 1 297 (139-158), Manila Southwoods 292, Januarius Private Equity 289 (149-140), SPES Team 1 266 (134-132), Time Cargo Logistics Team 1 235 (117-118)

Am-CH — Batangas Barakos 234 (122-112), Manila Southwoods Team 2 233 (113-120), Eastridge Primehomes Team 2 229 (114-115), Januarius Truespec 193 (101-92), Valley 175 (82-93).