The golfing action heats up

Davao City – These are interesting times for our country and I encourage each and every one to pray for peace and for a rapid solution to the crisis that we are now facing.

Although the heated action that I am witnessing here is only at the golf course, I can't help but notice how the number of people intently watching the news on the small TV at the veranda of the Apo Golf and Country Club seem to have suddenly swelled.

Many would probably think that golfers are indifferent to what is happening, but this is not the first time that I am in a golf tournament and something major is happening in the National Capital.

I remember being in the Coral Invitational at the Cebu Country Club when former President Joseph Estrada was booted out of the office and though we were still trying to concentrate of the game, my flightmates could not help but also keep posted about the developments in Manila.

I am no political analyst, so I leave it to them to tell our readers what will happen next.

Here in Davao, what is set to happen next will be a tight battle for the title in the various divisions of the 59th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament and what could be the major effect of the declaration of a state of emergency is that the military and police officers, who are competing in this event might have to return to their camps.

This means some teams might have less than five players suiting up today, but I'm sure their teammates would not mind since this is a matter of national security.

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At least two of the Cebu teams competing in the PAL Interclub are contenders in their respective divisions.

As of this writing, Cebu Country Club is still battling it out at the fairways of the Apo golf course while Alta Vista just completed its round.

Cebu Country Club was tied for second after two rounds in the Founders Division, while Alta Vista is now at fifth spot in the Sportswriters Division, 12 points behind pacesetting Rancho Palos Verdes.

What makes our job of covering this event more interesting is always seeing the Cebuanos do well in their divisions and fight for the top honors.

One man, who was very happy yesterday, was my compadre Ramon U. Sebastian, who led Alta Vista with 27 points.

There's more work to do for them today as the action moves to the Rancho Palos Verdes. I surely wish the Cebu teams can bring something home. Not just the pasalubongs but also the trophies and the medals from the tournament.

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I was already in Davao when I learned of the passing away of a colleague, lawyer Manuel N. Oyson, Jr.

Atty. Oyson was our chairman in the screening committee of the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame and also a regular fixture in the PAL Interclub coverage.

I hope that our city government will continue the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame in honor of the men who helped put it together. Incidentally, all three of them have already written 30 - Orlando C. Sanchez, Wilfredo 'Boy' Veloso, and now Atty. Oyson.

The Hall of Fame is something that we Cebuanos can be very proud about so I urge our city officials to find ways to keep the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame going. Unfortunately, there would be no enshrinement or any other ceremony for the Sports Hall of Fame this year.

I hope next year, the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame will come back to life so we can continue to relive the memories of the sports heroes, who helped make Cebu sports what it is today.