Arbie Jacinto and guest partner Ramil Gutierrez shot 89 points on opening day to take the lead in the low net division of the 37th Mango Tee Invitational at Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa on Saturday.
Jacinto, a businessman who carries an 11-handicap, fired 45 points, equivalent to nine-under-par in stroke play, while Gutierrez, an 18-handicapper, turned in 44 points.
Using his prodigious length off the tee, Jacinto crushed a 320-yard tee shot on the 10th hole to make himself a solid contender in the longest drive category.
Jacinto and Gutierrez opened a five-point lead over Dr. Brian Cabral and Carmelo Velasco who scored 40 and 44 points, respectively.
In the low gross bracket, John Baron Garcia and junior standout David Serdenia showed the way with 73, 11 points ahead of Jerome Hernandez and Masaichi Otake.
The other division leaders were Jacinto-Gutierrez, Platinum; Miguel Villafuerte-Francis Francisco, Gold; Fernando Tizon and Hector Villanueva, Silver; and Rodolfo Plaza and Paolo Plaza, Bronze.
The top five scores in each category at the end of the morning session of Day 1 in the 37th Mango Tee Invitational at Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa on Saturday:
LOW GROSS — John Baron Garcia-David Serdenia 73, Jerome Hernandez-Masaichi Otake 62, Arbie Jacinto-Ramil Gutierrez 60, Brian Cabral-Carmelo Velasco 57, Miguel Villafuerte-Francis Francisco 55.
LOW NET — Arbie Jacinto-Ramil Gutierrez 89, Brian Cabral-Carmelo Velasco 84, Miguel Villafuerte-Francis Francisco 80, John Baron Garcia-David Serdenia 79, Rodolfo Plaza-Paolo Plaza 79.
PLATINUM — Arbie Jacinto-Ramil Gutierrez 89, Brian Cabral-Carmelo Velasco 84, John Baron Garcia-David Serdenia 79, Ramon Osmena-Ron Palad 77, Joaquin Bengzon-Lance Martinez 73.
GOLD — Miguel Villafuerte-Francis Francisco 80, Alan Reyes-Harvey Ringler 75, Robert Limcaco-Paul Genito 75, Ed Hernandez-John Verano 75, Oscar Lactao-Ronald Santos 75.
SILVER — Fernando Tizon-Hector Villanueva 76, Miguel Magsaysay-Kevin Atendido 73, Homero Mercado-Romarico Alvarez 72, Amando Sauler-Juno Sauler 71, Gary Teves-Nolan Rada 70.
BRONZE — Rodolfo Plaza-Paolo Plaza 79, Rafael Garcia-Enrique Camacho 77, Marion Raagas-Oliver Hamsirani 77, Rene Almeda-Reynaldo Valdez 75, Anthony Dee-Richard Rojas-Go 74.