Davao City , Philippines – Cebu Country Club, which is gunning for a major comeback, opened big in the 62nd Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub yesterday by taking the lead in the Founders Division played at the rain-soaked Apo Golf Club.
Bucking the rain that came in the afternoon, Cebu Country Club scored and opening round of 112 points, one ahead of the Davao City Golf Club with 111.
Veteran Ramontito Garcia, the team captain, led CCC yesterday with 32 points in the Stableford Scoring System.
Eric Deen added 30 points while Jovi Neri and Joseph Stevens each turned in 25 points. Bayani Garcia made 21 points and did not count for the team total in the five-to-play, four-to-count format.
“This is our strongest team so far,” Garcia said. He is hopeful that their team will once again raise their banner after their string of championships in the Founders Division was halted last year in Bacolod City.
The five seeing action for Cebu Country Club today are Mark Dy, Marko Sarmiento, Carl Almario, Joseph Stevens and Kiyofumi Takahashi. They will be playing at Rancho Palos Verdes.
Running third is Orchard with 104, followed by Tagaytay and Wack-Wack with 101 points each. Negros made 99 and is at solo 6th followed by Riviera at 7th with 98. Three teams are tied for 8th with 96 apiece – Alta Vista, Palos Verdes and Valley.
Alta Vista’s 96 points at Apo yesterday came behind the sterling performance of 13-year-old Gio Gandiongco, who scored six-over-par 30 points.
Gabriel Yap, Jr. made 26 points while Dennis Canoy added 24. Last to count was either of the 16 points of Enrico Solon and Kim Kwang Seok.
Skipper Victor Gocela remains hopeful that the team can bounce back today at Palos Verdes due to the familiarity of the players with the course. Set to see action today are Alex Yeo, Wendell Yap, Kim Kwang Seok, Gabriel Yap, and Gocela.
In the third-ranked Sportswriters Division, Mactan Island Golf Club runs third in the field, four points behind Camp John Hay and three from Sherwood.
Fernando ‘Andot’ Mondares led Mactan’s scorers at the Rancho Palos Verdes with 31 points. Also counting for the team total were Hubert Calan and Jomar Nuñez with 29 points apiece and last to count was Roy Dadula with 14. Chandran Rama scrapped through with only 10 points and did not count.
Mactan will be fielding Kim Agatep, Andrew Cañete, Ronnie Sarigumba, Alfredo Cabajar, Jr. and Jonathan Dionson today at Apo Golf.
Platinum backers of the tournament are ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print Media Group, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network, and Solar Sports.
Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribeean, and XFM 92.3 are the major sponsors while Pagcor is the corporate sponsor. Also backing the event are Rajah Broadcasting Network and Century Park Hotel. Honda Cars Davao is the hole-in-one sponsor.
In the Championship Division, The Country Club, which is manned by members of the national pool posted a five-point lead behind the four-under-par 40 points of Tonyt Fernando at the Rancho Palos Verdes. The team scored a total of 138 points.
Canlubang, which is seeking a fourth straight title, finished with 133 points yesterday. Action for the premiere category will shift to the tricky Apo Golf Club today.
In the Friendship Division, Phil. Navy leads the field with 96 points followed by Eagle Ridge and Fil-Am Hawaii with 92. South Cotabato made 81 points while Club Filipino de Cebu is fifth with 79 points.
Hospicio Razon scored 27 points to lead Club Filipino and was backed by Edwardson Chiu with 20 points and the duo of Ed Franco and Kim Jae Eun with 16 points apiece. Raymond Garcia, the fifth player, was disqualified when he failed to submit his scorecard on time.
The same team will play for CFIC today at Palos Verdes. (THE FREEMAN)