Cebu Country Club fails, Pueblo tops Founders

Cagayan de Oro City - Cebu Country Club's quest for the Founders Division title in the 20th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub Tournament hit a wall yesterday at the par-72 Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.

Host Pueblo de Oro felt so much at home playing at their course yesterday to run roughshod over the opposition and claim the title with an aggregate of 466 points on rounds of 225 and 241.

Wack-Wack, with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos finding time from his duties to help the team, finished second by a flimsy one-point margin over Valley Golf, 454 to 453.

Rey Orimaco powered Pueblo's final day surge as he shot even-par 54 points and was backed by the 50 of Rolly Uy, Cebuano Clifford Celdran 48, Ed Yap 46, and either of the 43s of Buddy Bacus and Oscar Lagua. The 41s of Rene Go and Mike Celdran did not count.

Stewart Go made 48 points to lead Wack-Wack and also counting were Abalos 46, Jose Santos 44, Pablo Soon 43, and Jose Lim 43.

The Cebuanos, who led by one point at the start of the round, lost the momentum from their opening round and a two-point deduction from the team's second day total further dampened their championship hopes. Masaya Hishida accidentally tapped the ball in after missing his putt for double-bogey on hole No. 11.

The tournament rules state that a player, who is playing for no more point must pick up his ball. The scoring format awards seven points for a double-eagle, six for an ace, five for eagle, four for birdie, three for par, two for bogey, and one for double-bogey.

Cebu finished with a total of 449 points and landed at 4th place with rounds of 233 and 216. Counting for the team yesterday were Koichi Horii and Hishida with 45, skipper Reny Sarmiento with 44, Masatsugu Ochiai with 42, and Efren Sarmiento with 42. The 41 of Julius Neri, Sr. and the 38s of Eddie Ong and Anton Florendo did not count.

Fifth place went to Camp Evangelista with 449 (232-217) while sixth was Orchard with 447 (222-225).

Mactan scored a total of 423 points on rounds of 217 and 206 to finish seventh. Scoring for the team yesterday were Hospicio Razon 47, Felix Villanueva 43, Isao Suzuki 40, Ret. General Rodante Joya 39, and Eriberto Creus 37. The 34 of Mario Bancale and the 30 of Pete Cantillas did not count.

Boy Alegre, who suffered a bum stomach during the first round and also yesterday, managed to finish the round, but got a double whammy when he was disqualified because his marker submitted his scorecard even before Alegre could sign it.

Championship Division

Canlubang repeated as overall champions of the tournament with a two-day aggregate of 498 points on rounds of 252 and 246. The Sugar Barons left archrival Luisita eating their dust with a 15-point win despite the disqualification of star player Tommy Manotoc.

Manotoc, a standout for Canlubang, signed a wrong scorecard.

Counting for the team in the final round, which they played at the Pueblo de Oro, were Bing Bunye 50, Tony Olives 50, Rolly Viray 49, Luigi Yulo 49, and Lino Magpantay 48. The 45 of Dan Patalot and 43 of Baxo Adriano did not count.

Manotoc's marker, Caloy Coscolluela wrote a birdie on the par-3 hole No. 16 for the player instead of a par. When he was told that he scored two-under-par 56 points, Manotoc said that he only made 55 and reviewed the scorecard to see the error thus the disqualification.

In golf, once the scorecard is signed, any rectification shall not anymore be considered. Manotoc however graciously admitted to his mistake.

Second place for the championship class went to Luisita with 483 (246-237) and third went to Alabang with 476 (237-239).

Sportswriters Division

Eagle Ridge topped this third-ranked category with a total of 439 points on rounds of 217 and 222. The competition for this class ended at the Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Del Monte finished second after a countback with a total of 436 on rounds of 208 and 228. Third place went to Paoay Golf also with 436 but with rounds of 212 and 224. The tie was broken based on the score of the sixth man of the team.

Fourth to eighth places went to Apo Golf (425), Baguio Country Club (425), Team L.A. (425), Sienna Plantation 415, and Veterans 415.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club finished at ninth place with a total of 408 points on rounds of 203 and 205.

Boy Gonzalez led the team yesterday with 44 points and was backed by Tony Amor with 43, Bobby Barria with 42, Rolly Santos with 39, and Rod Señido with 37. The 34 of Ben Yu, 32 of Oscar Sanchez and 18 of Ed Sanchez did not count. (NLQ)