Canlubang rules 19th PAL Seniors

DAVAO CITY – Canlubang was simply awesome as it came up with another spectacular performance, this time at the long Apo Golf and Country Club to officially wrap up the title of the 19th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Seniors Interclub here.

Canlubang simply outclassed the opposition in this event for players aged 55 years old and above and even making it easier was the fact that Luisita, the defending champion, was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.

In the Founders Division where two Cebu teams were playing, Wack-Wack dominated to win the crown with Orchard taking second place and Cebu Country Club finishing third.

Alta Vista finished 13th in the field.

Canlubang fired rounds of 246 and 239 at the Lanang and Apo courses respectively for a total of 485 points.

Second place in the premiere Championship Division went to Alabang with a total of 454 on rounds of 226 and 228. Manila Southwoods wrapped up third place with 444 (225-219).

What was the biggest jolt in the tournament was when word about the disqualification of Luisita was announced by tournament director Buddy Resureccion.

"In the first team captains' meeting last October, all the clubs submitted their rosters as required. In the second meeting last Thursday, they again submitted their final eight members who are eligible to compete again as required," Resurreccion said.

"But when we reviewed all the lists yesterday, we found out Luisita's final list included Seve, who was not in the original roster. This is a rules violation that carries a penalty of team disqualification."

Seve is Seve Roxas Chua, who played for the team but was not in the roster.

The same penalty of team disqualification was also slapped on Negros in the Founders Division and Fil-Am San Francisco.

The same rule was also the reason why Alta Vista's Aki Hirasawa was considered ineligible to play since he joined the club only late in 2005.

In the Founders Division, Wack-Wack kept its hold of the lead after the first round as it scored 227 and 212 for a total of 439 points.

Orchard fired rounds of 214 and 212 for 426 while Cebu Country Club just fell short by two, 424 on rounds of 218 and 206.

Reny Sarmiento led Cebu yesterday with 47 points. The others whose scores were counted in the eight-to-play, five-to-count format were Eddie Ong 41, Masaya Hishida 41, Efren Sarmiento 39, and skipper Tony Jackson with 38. The 37s of Edgar Chiongbian and Jimmy Sy and the 36 of Bebot Baldemor did not count for the team total.

The tournament used the Molave Points System where a double-eagle is worth seven points, and ace is six, eagle five, birdie four, par three, bogey two and a double-bogey is one.

Alta Vista finished with 358 (186-172). Those who counted in the second round were Rod Señido 38, Ben Yu 37, Bobby Barria 34, Felix Villanueva 32, and Boy Gonzalez 31. The other members of the team were Ben Villamor with 29 and Vincete Go.

In the Sportswriters Division, co-host Lanang bagged the crown with 425 points on rounds of 198 and 227. Paoay finished second with 404 edging Maharlika in the tiebreaker.

Mactan Coral finished 12th in the field with 363 on rounds of 168 and 195 while Club Filipino landed 22nd with 302 (140-162).

Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, GE Aviation, GMA7, Honda Cars Davao, INQ7.net, Joey 92.3, Royal Caribbean International, PAGCOR, People Asia, Premier Wine and Spirits, Rudy Project, UMBN and Uraya Land Development Corp are the major sponsors of the tournament.

The corporate sponsors were ABS-CBN International, Fortune Tobacco and Radio Mindanao Network while the other backers were 96.3 Wroc, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Honda Megamotors, SM City Davao and Tanduay Rhum.