Mactan tops Sportswriters class

Davao City, Philippines  – Mactan Island Golf Club raised the flag of the Cebuanos in the just-concluded Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub here by claiming the title of the Sportswriters Division in runaway fashion.

Mactan entered yesterday’s final round at the Apo Golf Club with a very comfortable 18-point lead, but did not slow down as the team made 131 points yesterday for the finishing kick.

Skipper Rodante Joya and Hospicio Razon each turned in 45 points while Vidal Hebe made 41 in the Molave Points System in the four-to-play, three-to-count format for players 55 years old and above.

The fourth player of the team for yesterday’s round was Pete Cantillas, who shot 36 points.

Mactan’s four-day total is 524 points. Its first three rounds were 128, 129 and 136.

The four other members of the team are Felix Villanueva, Pedrito Buenavista, Yoshio Yamane, and Boy Alegre.

An ecstatic Retired General Joya lauded the team’s effort yesterday afternoon. This is the first title for their team in this tournament.

Second place in the third-ranked Sportswriters Division went to Riviera with 488 points on rounds of 123, 119, 121 and 125. Davao finished third with 469 (115-116-118-120).

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club failed to find its form again and limped home with a closing round of 98 points courtesy of Ben Yu with 37, Boy Gonzalez 31, and Roy Damole 30. Oscar Sanchez lost his way around the course to finish with 24 and did not count. 

Alta Vista ranked 12th in the category with a total of 419 points (107-106-108-98).

In the second-ranked Founders Division, Cebu Country Club landed fourth with a total of 502 points on rounds of 119, 135, 117 and 132.

Counting for the team total yesterday were Koichi Horii 50, Victor Yuvallos 41 and Anton Florendo 40. The 39 of Masaya Hishida did not count.

The title for the Founders class went to Orchard with 514 points (119-138-120-137) followed by Valley with 509 (135-127-122-125) and Camp John Hay 508 (116-128-130-134).

In the premiere Championship Division, Canlubang won its fourth straight seniors title with a total of 581 points on rounds of 140, 142, 153 and 146.

Tommy Manotoc led the team at Apo Golf Club yesterday shooting four-over-par 50 points while Rolly Viray added 49 and team owner Luigi Yulo had 47. The 44 of Bing Bunye did not count.

Luisita, which led the field in the first two days, finished eight points behind with 573 on rounds of 158, 129, 147 and 139. Pepot Iñigo matched the 50 points of Manotoc, but did not get much support from his teammates. Also counting for the team total were Bong Sison with 45 and opening-day topscorer Iggy Clavecilla with 44. Clavecilla made 56 points in the first day of the tournament. The 38 of King Sumulong did not count for the team total.

Third place went to Alabang with 535 (137-127-132-139).

Mercedes Plantation Golf and Country Club of Medellin, Cebu, which was bracketed in the Championship class finished with a total of 398 points on rounds of 107, 83, 96 and 112. Counting for the team total yesterday were Tom Orchel 42, Mike Walek 35, and Hermes Tanga-an 35. The 28 of Bugs Unchuan did not count.

Fil-Am Hawaii topped the four-ranked Friendship Division scoring a total of 456 points on rounds of 97, 113, 106 and 140.

Second place went to Lumbia with 451 (105-122-102-122) while third place went to Camp Evangelista with 449 (114-101-122-112). - THE FREEMAN