BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (Dec 2)  — Abe Rosal fired 27 points to power Luisita Golf and Country Club to a third-round 96 at the Baguio Country Club, widening its lead to 29 points with a 355 aggregate and moving a step closer to retaining the Fil Championship Seniors crown in the 75th Januarius Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament on Tuesday.

Benjamon Sumulong added 25, Ronnie Littaua chipped in 23 and Freddie Barbosa contributed 21 as the Tarlac-based squad solidified its grip on the top spot. Riviera Golf stayed in second place for the third straight day after Kyung Young Jung (24), Chan Yeong Gim (23), Koji Yasuma (22) and Ryan Abdon (21) pooled 90 points for a 324 total. Srixon IMG Team 1, however, made a big move as veterans Junjun Plana and Thirdy Escaño combined for 53 to tow the team to a 94 and a 320 aggregate—just four points behind Riviera.

Valley Golf sits far behind in fourth with 299. Mamala Bay stormed back into contention after carding a flight-best 116 at John Hay to move within two points of three-day leader Green Water Seniors. Bill Conners sizzled with a three-over 33 to lead the charge, backed by Chris Howard’s 32, Dale Jurgenson’s 30 and Vince Surbaum’s 20.

Their 286 total put them well within striking distance of the Tommy Manotoc-led Green Water squad. Green Water managed only 106 for a 288 total—built around Manotoc’s 31, the 26s of Roland Punzalan and local Douglas Puckett, and Sunny Fontilea’s 23.

Summit Point Golf remained comfortably in third spot with 102 and a 276 overall, 24 points ahead of Srixon IMG Team 2.

Camp John Hay completed a remarkable rally over three rounds, erasing a 14-point deficit and clinching the Fil A Seniors title with a closing flight-best 88 for a 366 total and a 14-point victory. Local physician Bayani Tecson delivered a team-high 26 points at Baguio Country Club to anchor the winning round.

Dai Tsuchiya added 22, Santiago Enginco carded 21 and Villamor Bumanglag had 19. John Hay had opened with a modest 84—only fifth-best—but a tournament flight-best 113 on Day 2 catapulted them to second, just a point behind BCC.

They seized control on the tougher Silverio Golena-laid-out BCC course and never looked back. The Baguio Blue Bloods settled for second with an 80 for a 352 total, led by John Marasigan’s 23, Rudy Lockey’s 21, Manny Solis’s 19 and Clyde Cabreros’s 18. FODC Team spoiled an all-Baguio podium after matching BCC’s 84 to finish tied at 346 for third. BCC, which topped the first two rounds, faded with an 80, undone by a disastrous third-round 68 that opened the door for FODC.

Euls Austin delivered a flight-best 6-over 30 to complete Moto’s comeback, steering the team to an 89 and a 329 four-day total to secure the Am A Seniors championship. Nelson Roa added 26. Moto finished nine points ahead of The Young Ones, who were tied with them after Round 3 but settled for the runner-up spot with an 80.

Tigermade Maagir placed third with a 75 and a 307 total. Golden Razcals matched the day’s best 71 for a 323 four-day total to score a 17-point triumph in the Fil C Seniors division. Robert Basco led the team with 22, followed by Bernard Capuyan with 20, Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. with 17 and Swanny Dicang with 12.

Starting nine points down, the squad capitalized on its return to Baguio Country Club, firing a flight-best 73 on Day 1 to seize the lead and eventually claim the crown. Two-day leader Benlife slipped to second with a final-round 67 and a 306 total. After leading by nine at mid-point, Benlife faltered at BCC with a costly 51 that dropped them 13 points behind and out of contention.

Waterlympics Pampanga surged from fifth to third after matching its earlier 71 at the short BCC layout. The team was 12 points behind Vallejo City I and Pugo Adventure after John Hay but rallied strongly to claim the last podium. Bughaw Golfers thrived at John Hay, closing with a flight-best 87 for a 319 total to wrap up a commanding 25-point victory in Am C Seniors. Noel Marcellano shot 26, Jimmy Suello tallied 24, Wilfredo Princesa added 23 and Gerry Dumawas had 14.

Their resurgence came after a difficult second round marred by a two-point penalty that wiped out their eight-point lead and left them staring at an 11-point deficit. But Marcellano sparked their comeback at John Hay with a six-over 30 as the team fired a flight-best 98 to regain the lead entering the final round—and never relinquished it.