62nd PAL Interclub: Cebu Country Club, Mactan Island rule

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf Club cruised home yesterday with so much room for error and easily bagged the championship trophies of the Founders and Sportswriters Divisions respectively of the 62nd Philippine Airlines Interclub here.

With commanding leads entering the final round, the two teams walk through the course with no pressure to carry.

Cebu Country Club finished with a total of 498 points after closing with 128 points at the Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday. Charles Hong led the Cebuanos with 34 points and was backed by Kiyofumi Takahashi with 32, Marko Sarmiento with 31 and Carl Almario, who also made 31. Mark Dy made only 23 points and did not count.

The other members of the team are Ramontito Garcia, Bayani Garcia, Jovi Neri, Joseph Stevens, and Eric Deen. This is their seventh title in nine years.

Second place went to Davao with 450 points on rounds of 111, 106, 115, and 118. Forest Hills was third with 441 (90-123-118-110).

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club landed seventh with a total of 419 points behind fourth placed Negros with 430, Tagaytay Highlands with 428 and Wack-Wack with 424.

Alta Vista fired 110 points yesterday behind Edsel Tan’s 33-point performance. Also counting for the team total were Denis Canoy 27, Victor Gocela 26, and Emir Abutazil 24. The 22 of Alex Yeo did not count.

Platinum backers of the tournament are ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print Media Group, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, GE Aviation, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network, and solar Sports.

Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribbean, 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.

Sportswriters Division

In this third-ranked category, Mactan coasted to the title with a four-day aggregate of 433 points on rounds of 103, 113, 108, and 109.

The team’s senior counterparts also won the title for this category in the seniors’ event, which closed last Sunday. Ronnie Sarigumba led Mactan yesterday with 31 points at Apo. 

Also counting for the team total were Jonathan Dionson 27, Andrew Cañete 26 and Alfredo Cabajar, Jr. 25. Kim Agatep made 14 points, which did not count.

The other members of the team were Jomar Nuñez, Roy Dadula, Hubert Calan, Fernando Mondares, and Chandram Rama.

Second place went to co-host Apo with 394 (95-106-93-100) while third place went to John Hay with 389 (107-91-90-101).

Championship Division

Canlubang once again bagged the overall title of the tournament by fending off a late rally by debuting The Country Club at the Apo Golf Club.

Canlubang finished with a total of 551 points on rounds of 133, 132, 145, and 141. Jhonnel Ababa led Canlubang yesterday with 38 points while Zaine Boy Gialon made 37, Mark Fernando had 36 and last to count was Dave Hernandez with 30. Veteran Tommy Manotoc made 29 points and did not count for the team total.

TCC scored a total of 542 on rounds of 138, 125, 137 and 142. Third place went to Del Monte of Bukidnon with 489 points (118-121-131-119).

Friendship Division

In the 54-hole contest for this category, Eagle Ridge bagged the crown with a three-day total of 296 points on rounds of 92, 99 and 105.

Second place went to Phil. Navy with 286 (96-90-100). Third place went to South Cotabato with a total of 264 on rounds of 81, 96 and 87.

Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu finished with a total of 256 points for fourth place after shooting rounds of 79, 94 and 83. Counting for the team yesterday were Victor Yuvallos 24, Evans Tumaliwan 23, Alvin Alazas 19, and Boboy Durano 17. The team’s fifth player yesterday was Jiji Gullas with 15 points. –THE FREEMAN