Bagtas-Kim pair rules pro-am at Valley Golf

Eddie Bagtas and amateur partner Richard Kim assembled an aggregate 149 to capture the crown in the inaugural Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines (PGAP) I-Fit Pro-Am Championship at the South course of the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo City. Bagtas, a multi-titled veteran pro, made a three-over-par 75 while Kim scorched the challenging Valley layout with a two-over 74. With their opening 79 in the alternate shot in the first round, they pocketed P75,000 out of the P400,000 total prize money. Edgar Ababa and Paul Echavez churned out a 154, good for P40,000, both losing steam in the closing nine with efforts of 39 and 40, respectively. Ababa, a pro ace in the 1980s, submitted a 78, while Echavez, a member of the powerhouse Canlubang team in the Interclub, had a 76. Bagtas had just two birdies against six bogeys in his round from the gold tees of the rolling layout in the heart of Antipolo, while Kim, teeing off from the blue tees, had four bogeys in his opening nine before bouncing back with three birdies against a bogey coming home. Juanito Pagunsan and Ricky delos Santos checked in third after identical 78s for 156 and a 233 tally, which was matched by the Erwin Vinluan-Eric Gallardo tandem. The two pairs split P55,000. Finishing fifth were Ernie Rellon and Jan Tambogon with a 234 tally, followed by the Danny Fortusa-Kenneth Kano duo, who wound up with a 237. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV