Baguio City—Nothing stunning but impressive for consistency, Kat Gonzales went beyond the 50-point barrier with 52 points (Modified Stableford system) to push defending champion Manila Southwoods-Masters into the driver’s seat—and possibly the title—in the centerpiece Group I of the fifth Camp John Hay Asian Ladies Team Championship.

A former junior stalwart, Gonzales, 21, buried a nine-foot birdie putt on the third hole but was set back by a forgettable double bogey on the ninth, which she three-putted.  She got back to even with a long 30-foot birdie on No. 10.

After routine pars from the 11th to 13th, Gonzales bungled three chances to save par and only had one birdie which accounted for that 52, which was equivalent to a two-over-par 71 at the par-69 Jack Nicklaus layout characterized by lightning-fast greens.

Together with the 47s each of Claire Ong and Bernadette Abiera, Southwoods-Masters now has 286, four points ahead of Orchard-Palmer, which managed a 142 for 282, with 18 holes left in the 54-hole competition organized by the Camp John Hay Golf Club.

“It is not a safe lead but we are happy to be in front.  We’ll have to maintain the same level of play tomorrow to match up well with Orchard-Palmer,” said Southwoods-Masters team captain Nini Samaniego.

Orchard-Palmer’s 11-year-old wonder Princess Mary Superal matched up well with 52 markers but got very little support from her teammates.  Sister Crystal Faith Superal contributed 48 and the beauteous Sarah Cruz added 42 for that 142.

Aguinaldo Hyper-X maintained its third-place position with 274 after a 136.  Matet Salivio also carded a 52 to lead the way while Mabel Salivio and Josie Untal posted 43 and 41, respectively.

Forest Hills (131-117) and Valley South (122-126), were tied at fifth with 248s.

In Group II, Tagaytay Highlands unleashed its might with 125 points for 247, thanks to Hedy See’s 46, Totelle Dimson’s 40 and Malene Flores’s 39.  They are nine shots clear off local team Camp John Hay Team I which produced a 115 for 238.

Baguio-based Korea Team I had virtually nailed the Group III crown when it opened up a 40-point spread, 235-195, over Camp John Hay Team II, while Valley Executive held a slight two-point lead, 180-178, against the pesky Tagaytay Belle.

The Camp John Hay Asian Ladies, which was conceptualized by Shean Bedi in 2003, has Wilson Sports, Sitel, Golforce Inc., Asia-Pacific Golf Corp., Le Chef, The Manor at Camp John Hay, Kork Inc. and Starbucks as major sponsors.

No Pushover

HOW many times has Manny Pacquiao heard this? A guy—who’s Mexican more often than not—comes into every pre-fight press conference promising he’ll take down the Pacman.

Annika Retires

Annika Sorenstam has always played golf with a controlled precision and singular focus that made her the best player in women’s golf for the better part of a decade, perhaps the best ever.

Baguio City—Nothing stunning but impressive for consistency, Kat Gonzales went beyond the 50-point barrier with 52 points (Modified Stableford system) to push defending champion Manila Southwoods-Masters into the driver’s seat—and possibly the title—in the centerpiece Group I of the fifth Camp John Hay Asian Ladies Team Championship.

THE future of the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) now lies on 19 organizations, which have been declared as official active members of the federation.

HAPEE Toothpaste and Harbour Centre try to arrange another championship showdown as they go for the clincher in the semifinal series on the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup today at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

THE Philippines tries to put a lock on the top spot in Group B in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup Qualifiers when it clashes with defending champion Tajikistan at the Iloilo Sports Complex today in Iloilo City.  

WHEN we think of athletes, we think of the healthiest, strongest, fittest people on the planet. We think they’re the epitome of health and strength. But, would you believe, all things being equal, couch potatoes have a better chance of living longer than athletes?