Cebu Country Club drops to third spot

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Country Club slipped to the third spot in the battle for the top honors in the penultimate day of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Seniors Interclub yesterday.

Luisita still holds a commanding 12-point lead, but defending champion Canlubang had a huge push yesterday hoping to salvage their championship hopes.

Tommy Manotoc fired one-over-par 53 points yesterday to lead Canlubang’s steep climb to help his team score a total of 147 points yesterday for a three-day aggregate of 427 points. Mari Hechanova added 50 points for the team total.

Luisita has a three-day total of 439 points on rounds of 147, 149 and 143.

Francis Gaston led the Luisitans at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club yesterday with 49 points with Richie Garcie adding 48.

Cebu Country Club made 138 points yesterday behind the 52 of club president Ramontito Garcia. He was backed by Lor Alaan with 47 and Anton Florendo with 39. Shigeo Saito had 38, which did not count.

Cebu Country Club’s three-day aggregate is 420 points.

The tournament requires teams to field four players per round and only the three best scores counting for the team total.

The Molave Points System is being used.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club had a total of 133 points yesterday with Victor Gocela leading the team with 47 points. He was backed by Ed Acain with 44 and Kim Kwang Seok with 42. The 34 of skipper Loloy Sabuga did not count.

Alta Vista has a total of 406 points. It hopes to improve its chances today at Apo Golf with Gocela, Acain, and Kim to be joined by Ramon Sebastian for the final round.

The final round of the tournament will be played at Apo Golf Club.

Manotoc said that anything is still possible. The opinion is shared by Luisita skipper Iggy Clavecilla.

A similar battle is at hand in the Founders division where Manila Golf holds a 10-point edge over Riviera Golf.

Manila Golf has 399 points while Riviera has 389.

Mactan Island Golf Club had Isao Suzuki leading the team yesterday with 40 points, Boy Alegre added 35 and last to count was Ed Franco with 32. Skipper B. Gen. Nestor Deona had 24.

MIGC plays in the second-ranked Founders Division.

Meanwhile, Club Intramuros virtually wrapped up the Friendship division after padding its lead to 33 points over Fil-Am Florida.

In the Sportswriters class, Fil-Am Hawaii seized the lead after collecting 136 points at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

 Fil-Am Hawaii has a three-round total of 372, seven points ahead of Chamorro.

The platinum sponsors of the 65th PAL Interclub are Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five, and GE.

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

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