Fernando Tizon and Hector Villanueva stormed to the top of Group C after combining for 77 points in the 35th Mango Tee at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa Friday.
Tizon, a 24-handicapper, made five pars on the way to 43 points while Villanueva, who plays to a 16-handicap, added 34.
The pair improved to 143 points and built a seven-point lead over idle Antonio Lozano Jr and Ed Co, the erstwhile leaders.
Roberto Atendido Jr. and Vicente Valdez, the 18-hole leaders with 77 points, slipped to third with 132 after fading with 55 points on Thursday.
Former champions Tim Cone and Fausto Preysler wound up their campaign with 128 points, good for temporary seventh place in Group C.
Cone, who has a handicap of 21, closed with 35 points while Preysler, a 9-handicapper, turned in 24 points.
The top positions in the other categories remained untouched.
Defending champions Jorge Gallent and Junjun Plana lead the overall gross division with 138 points, seven points clear of Francis Tueres and Don Breganza.
MIGUEL de Asis raises one leg after barely missing his putt while partner Fredrick Yu lines up his putt on the 10th green. | Photograph by Joey Sanchez Mendoza for the daily tribune @tribunephl_joey
The best gross score of the day was posted by Nieto Jesus Punzalan and Fredrick Uy who collected 54 points to move up to sixth with 107 points.
Three teams — Tommy Manotoc-Abe Rosal, King Stehmeier-Erik Escalona, and Aian Arcilla-Jeth — have realistic chances of dethroning Gallent and Plana but they need to score at least 74 points or the equivalent of 2-under in stroke play.
In the event of a tie, Gallent and Plana would lose the countback for having a low second-round output.
“That 74 would be the magic number. It will put a lot of pressure on us but we will surely try,” said Stehmeir, the reigning club champion.
In the overall net category, the tandem of Ryan Mendoza and Paulo Legaspi stayed in the driver’s seat with 150 points, five points ahead of Jake Corporal and David Ong.
Tizon and Villanueva climbed to third place with 143.
In Group A, Jake Corporal and David Ong have 145 points to lead Erwin Co and Jasper Ong by three points.
On Friday, Co and Ong sparkled for 74 points but still fell short of claiming first place.
James de Leon and Felix Chua Jr. slipped to third with 141 points.
Mendoza-Legaspi was safely entrenched at the helm of Group B with 150, nine shots ahead of Juan Jose Rocha-Luis Miguel Garcia.
In Group D, Philip Lee and Marc Lee are on top of the heap with 142 points, 10 shots ahead of Zorabell Medina-Abraham Rojas. Rodolfo Plaza-Rodolfo Plaza Jr. was running third with 132 points.
The event’s presenters are Smart, Petron, San Miguel, and Jewelmer.
The Turf Company, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Philippine Business Bank/Zesto, Merry Mart and Global Ferronickel are the major sponsors.
Also supporting the Mango Tee as premium sponsors are Unilab and Jewelmer.
Hole-in-one sponsors are Auto Nation Group Inc., Volvo Cars Phils., Lexus Philippines, Citimotors, Gransportivo, Venture Motorcycle Sales Corp., G&W Clubshares and Starlux.
Hole sponsors include Ayala Land, Asian Hospital, Tipsy Pig, Cotecna, Delta Neo/El Jardin, CTBC Bank, Golfers Clubshare, GG&A Clubshare, Alog Company, IQOS, iPrudential, 515 Group, Standard Insurance, Icoon Company;
City Service, Pacsports, Srixon, Golf Depot, Airport House of Wine, Ralphs Wine, 357 Boracay, Omnisource, Prestige Golf Access and Clubshares, Inc., S&R, Mamalous, Bluesmith, Barcino, Fusion Pro, Primea Discovery, Marriot Manila and Courtyard Marriot.
Daily Tribune is the event’s media partner.
