Good start for Cebuanos

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu teams were off to a good start in the first day of the seniors’ tournament of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub in Davao City as Luisita Golf Club surged to the top in the premiere Championship division.

Cebu Country Club is at second spot in the premiere class followed Canlubang on third and Alta Vista is fourth at the Apo Golf and Country Club.

Over at Rancho Palos Verdes, Mactan Island Golf Club is also holding its fort as it stands third in the second-ranked group.

Luisita amassed a total of 147 points to set the pace in the tournament for players aged 55 years old and above behind Mining Maravilla with 51 points while Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia added 49. Seve Roxas Chua was last to count with 47 in this four-to-play, three-to-count format using the Molave Points System.

Ramontito Garcia, president of the Cebu Country Club, had the best score for the day shooting one-over-par 53 points in the tough Apo layout.

His team scored a total of 141, six behind the leaders, but also six clear of defending champion Canlubang.

Garcia told The Freeman last night that they did not expect to score that well.

When asked what to expect, he simply said, “kayod lang as usual.” (We will work hard as usual.)

Also counting for the Cebuanos were Masatsugu Ochiai and Anton Florendo with 44 points apiece. The 43 of Nonoy Tirol did not count.

Canlubang had Dave Hernandez and Mari Hechanova shooting 47 and third to count was Tony Olives with 41.

Iggy Clavecilla, Luisita’s outspoken captain, is not counting out Canlubang just yet though.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club is three points further back with 132 points behind the 45s of Razy Razon and rookie Akira Hatano while skipper Loloy Sabuga added 42. Masahisa Kawakami’s 39 did not count for the team total.

Garcia said that CCC will be fielding Takehiko Horii, Clifford Celdran, Shigeo Saito, and Lor Alaan at Palos Verdes today.

Victor Gocela, one of the players of Alta Vista said that the team set to see action today would be Razon, Hatano, Kawakami, and Ramon Sebastian.

Mercedes Plantation Golf and Country Club fired a total of 67 points. The team is also bracketed under the premiere Championship Division.

In the Founders Division, Apo Golf is at the top of the standings with 142 points followed by Philippine Navy with 134.

Mactan is at third with 130 points. Boy Alegre led the team with 45 points and was backed by Yoshio Yamane with 44 points and Isao Suzuki with 41. Roberto Balcos fired 27, which did not count.

Mactan and the other teams of the Founder class will play in Apo today.

The 65th PAL Interclub is sponsored by Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media and Media Five.

The major backers are Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.

Also lending support are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphic, Boeing International Corp., GE, Bombo Radyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu. (FREEMAN)