THE PHILIPPINES came through with a combined four-under par 140 yesterday to stay in a share of 17th spot halfway through the 2005 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championships in Houston.
Marvin Dumandan came through with an eagle-birdie windup at the backside at the Whispering Pines Golf course to power his team-up with Gene Bondoc to a six-under par 66 under the best-ball format. But their effort went to naught as Lora Roberto and Anya Tanpinco limped home with a second straight two-over par 74.
That gave the Philippines a 36–hole aggregate of 286 to join Finland at 17th after starting the round in 19th place. The Filipinos, whose stint is supported by golf patron Enrique Razon through the National Golf Association of the Phils., remained trailing leader England by 18 strokes heading into the final two rounds of this biennial event, which pools the combined outputs of the men’s and ladies squads for the team’s overall score.
England fired a 135 for a 268 to seize a two-stroke lead over South Africa, which had a 270 after a 139.
The defending champion United States lurked behind with a 271 after shooting the day’s best score of 134.
In the men’s team play, the Philippines, headed by team captain and NGAP vice president Danny Pizarro, remained in joint 14th with a 138, eight strokes behind Canada (66-130), which leads Germany and the US by three shots. The Germans and the Americans had identical 133s after a pair of 67s.
With a 148 haul, the RP ladies, skippered by NGAP treasurer Alice Andrada, are mired in 19th place among 24 teams, 15 strokes behind England, which shot a 68 for a share of the lead with Sweden, firing a 67, at 133s.
