Canlubang claims crown, Cebu finishes close third

Davao City, Philippines  – Canlubang pulled the rug from under Luisita while Cebu Country Club just fell a little short for its final surge as the Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub came to a dramatic close at the Apo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Canlubang fired a four-day total of 571 points on rounds of 135, 145, 147, and 144 to break the hearts of the Luisita team that had the lead for the first three days.

Luisita’s monumental collapse also gave Cebu Country Club a shot at the second spot, but the Cebuanos just fell two points short.

Luisita finished with a total of 568 points on rounds of 147, 149, 143, and 129 while the Cebuanos finished with 566. The 146 made by CCC yesterday was the best for the day. It made 141, 141, and 138 in the first three rounds.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club settled for the fourth spot finishing with 525 points on rounds of 130, 143, 132, and 120.

Tommy Manotoc carded his second straight round of one-over-par 53 points to lead Canlubang’s big push. Others who counted for the team total were Tony Olives with 46 and Rolly Viray with 45. The 44 of Bing Bunye did not count.

The tournament requires a team to field four players per round with only the three best scores to count for the total.

The Molave Points System is used for the seniors’ event, which is open only to players aged 55 years old and above.

Luisita groped for the form that helped them post a commanding lead after three rounds, but they could not find it yesterday.

Francis Gaston, who had a near eagle on his closing hole, led the team with 44 points. Iggy Clavecilla had 43 and Rudy Amata made 42. Pepot Iñigo had 41.

Cebu Country Club saved the best for last and as the players were coming in, excitement was building up as the upstaging of Luisita seemed very possible.

Koichi Horii led the CCC team yesterday with 51 points and was backed by Clifford Celdran with 49 and Nonoy Tirol with 46. The 42 of Masatsugu Ochiai did not count.

Alta Vista, which was also in the final flight, was led by club treasurer Ramon Sebastian with 44 points also capping the round by a near-eagle on the 18th.

The others who counted for the team were Kim Kwang Seok with 40 and Ed Acain with 36. The fourth player for the final round was Victor Gocela with 33.

In the second-ranked Founders Division, which played their final round at Rancho Palos Verdes, Manila Golf claimed the title with a total of 524 points on rounds of 128, 144, 127, and 125. 

Second place went to Apo with 523 in an also exciting battle. Apo had rounds of 142, 117, 123, and 141. Third place went to Eagle Ridge with 515 (129-136-123-127).

Mactan Island Golf Club, which played in this category finished at 16th spot with a total of 439 points on rounds of 130, 92, 108, and 109.

Leading Mactan yesterday was Kim Jong Chul with 45 points followed by Ed Franco with 33 and Hermes Tangaan with 31. The fourth player was Roberto Balcos with 28.

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