BAGUIO -- With three players scoring heavily, Manila Southwoods Team-1 fought back from four points down to a slim two-point heading to an exciting showdown with rival Luisita at the Camp John Hay Golf Club in the penultimate round of the 74th Januarius Fil Am Invitational seniors’ competition here.

Raul Miñoza and Manfred Guangko came out with guns blazing as each scored 33 points. Jun Jun Plana and Theody Pascual added 32 and 29 to account for the day’s tally of 127 and 329 total.

Southwoods skipper Freddie Mendoza attributed the third-round success to the game plan set, which was to play it one flight at a time.

“It worked,” he said, adding: “we will continue to employ this strategy in our final round.”

Benjie Sumulong and Abe Rosal were again Luisita’s top gunners with 33 and 32 while a pair of 28s from Chino Raymundo and Ferdie Barbosa contributed to the defending champ’s 121 and 327.

Riviera also made a bold move, assembling 129 markers for 320, seven down from Luisita. Edwin Lee paced the Silang, Cavite-based club with 38 and Charlie Gim with 33.

Luisita may have lost the advantage but remains the favorite to repeat in the premier division.

“We will try our best to defend the title and our players are confident they can bring their A-games in the last round. It will be an exciting day with at least three teams contending,” said Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova.    

In the Am Championship, Manila Southwoods Team-2 continued to hold sway, putting in 100 points at Baguio Country Club to maintain pole position with 327.

Srixon-IMG pooled 94 for 320 to be at second and Greenwater Seniors at third with 307 after an 83.

“My guys have been steady, especially today. We have to be steady in the final 18 at the tough BCC course,” Mendoza also said.

Championship Scores:

FIL – Manila Southwoods Team-1 329, Luisita 327, Riviera 320, Forest Hills Nicklaus 307, Summit Point 263

AM – Manila Southwoods Team-2 327, Srixon-IMG 320, Greenwater 307, Baguio Blue Bloods 273, Leeward Fil-Am 196