Coral golfest final round today Two teams tied for the provisional lead

CEBU - It felt like we were playing somewhere else and not at the Cebu Country Club last Thursday when we teed off just when there was a hint of sunlight shortly before 6 a.m.

If we were to do something else, it would have been hard to wake up very early and head to the golf course despite the extremely cold weather, which authorities say is brought about by the tail end of the cold front.

Some experts say it’s because of the glaciers melting due to global warming and the weather bureau said that we will experience these very cold days until April. Looks like it will be good to venture into the jacket and sweater business.

This is not a business column so I’ll stick to sports and the reason that we left the comfort of our homes and hotel rooms to play our first round in the 28th Coral Invitational.

My foursome that included my partner Oly Dychangco and the team of Max Tan and William Lim was the first off the tee that day. We are again scheduled to tee off very early today expecting almost similar conditions, but hoping to do better.

This edition of the Coral Invitational is going to wrap up tonight with the awards ceremony. While I still don’t know as of this writing who would win the trophies, one thing is definite — the players will be looking forward to next year’s event.

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A testimonial golf tournament was held yesterday at the Mactan Island Golf Club in honor of three generals – Lt. Gen. Pedro Ike Inserto, commander of the Central Command; Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi, commander of the 2nd Air Division; and B. Gen. Mario Butch Lacson, commander of the Western Command.

Gen. Inserto is due to retire next week after 38 years of service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

I once thought that golf was only something to do when one retires, but that is not the case now. You just get to have more time for it once you retire and probably your flightmates will not be as forgiving as they used to be when you were in the active service. Hehehe…you have to putt out now and not hear the word “give” even if you have a two-footer left to putt.

The organizers of the event somewhat made it very relaxing for the participants as the entire 18 holes was filled with light banter with the people in my flight – Atty. Ely Espinosa, my cousin Rolando Acas, and Lt. SG Ervin ‘Bruce’ Mundo of the Navy.

At least we were one in believing that playing bad is not an excuse to get mad. We were there to have fun so we made sure to have a lot of them.

Even my mistahs Maj. Armand Arevalo, Maj. Mike Santos and Lt. Cdr. Ed Sumergido, who were two flights ahead, seemed to really have had a lot of fun.

I hope they’re not yet practicing for their retirement. Hehehe…

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MILESTONES: Belated happy birthday to San Remigio Vice Mayor Herman ‘Nino’ Bascon, who turned a year older yesterday.

The same goes to my sister in the Tao Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Jocelyn ‘Jojo’ Densing.

More power to both of you!   (THE FREEMAN)