BACOLOD CITY — Ruperto Zaragosa III is no different from typical 12-year-old boys in the neighborhood.

He attends primary school, plays computer games and feasts on junk food.

On Friday, Zaragosa walked among the men and produced a performance that belies his five-foot frame and child-like disposition.

His 35 points at the Binitin golf course helped defending champion Canlubang to an 11-point lead over The Country Club going into the final round of the Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championship.

Zaragosa’s entry is a big shift for a team that relies on experience and track record.

Just a year ago, Canlubang brought back from retirement senior players Tommy Manotoc and Dave Hernandez to collect its 16th championship in Davao City.

This year, Canlubang added five players, who except for Abe Rosal, are still in their teens.

“He (Zaragosa) deserves to be in this team,” declared Canlubang captain Luigi Yulo whose gambit nearly backfired when Rupert debuted with just 25 points.

Leading off for the Sugar Barons, Zaragosa, a sixth grader at Morning Star Montessori in Calamba, Laguna, made three birdies against four bogeys to outplay TCC’s Alexis Nallos by 10 points.

Overshadowed by Zaragosa’s heroics was Jessie Balasabas who also had 35, a five-point improvement from Thursday.

Balasabas, who picked up twice in the last five holes in his previous round, received a dressing down from Manotoc.

Canlubang also drew 34 points from Art Arbole and 33 from Jhonel Ababa. Joey Huerva did not count with 29.

The Sugar Barons now have a three-round total of 403 points following their 137 points Friday.

“They (TCC) still have a lot of firepower left. If we can maintain the lead after the first nine holes tomorrow, ‘yun medyo safe na,” said Yulo.

“Out strategy to retain the guys in Day 2 worked,” he added.

Eleven points is by no means safe in Interclub play.

In 1998, Luisita rallied from 12 points down in the final round to edge Manila Southwoods for the title.

“It will be tough,” said TCC coach Bong Lopez. “The team did not play with their potential. And (Dante) Becierra let us down.”

Becierra, who had 31 points Thursday, shot only 25 points, matching Nallos’ score.

Erwin Madrilleno, playing the Interclub for the first time, posted 28 points as TCC got only 53 points from its third and fourth men.

Former Canlubang player Zanie Boy Gialon and United States-based Carl Santos Ocampo led TCC with 37 and 34 points, respectively.

With Ocampo already through, TCC will now rely on Tonton Asistio and Rufino Bayron to foil Canlubang’s bid for a fifth straight crown at the Marapara golf course.

Canlubang, on the other hand, has national champion Mhark Fernando and first round topnotcher Alvin Engino to count on.

In a close battle for the Founders division title, Manila Southwoods leads Negros Occidental by four points after a three-day total of 352. Del Monte is running third with 345 points.

The event is presented by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, 105.1 Crossover and Radio Mindanao Network. Major sponsors are Action Asia, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, People Asia, and Royal Caribbean.

The corporate backers are Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, www.philstar.com, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network and Resort World Manila. Century Park Hotel, DWWW 774 AM, Panay News, Master Card, and Thales Aerospace are minor patrons.