Davao City, Philippines – The 65th Philippine Airlines Interclub Golf Tournament tees off today at the Apo Golf and Country Club and the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club here with a total of 66 teams battling for honors in four categories.
Cebu Country Club is seeded second in the premiere Championship Division behind defending champion Del Monte.
Other notable teams in the Championship class are Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Forest Hills, Wack-Wack, Alabang, and Manila Southwoods.
According to Charlie Go, who has been designated captain of CCC, today’s team at the Rancho Palos Verdes would be Carl Almario, Bayani Garcia, Gen Nagai, Jovi Neri, and Marko Sarmiento.
The Cebuanos are scheduled to be on the same flights as the teams from Del Monte, Alabang, and Negros.
Alta Vista Golf and Country Club has been bracketed under the second-ranked Founders Division as the third seed behind Orchard and Villamor.
Victor Gocela, skipper of Alta Vista, told The Freeman that he is very happy with this classification as the team would have a very good chance of bringing home a trophy.
Gocela said that last year, the team was put in the Championship class, which somewhat upset their preparations.
With several young players added to the team, Gocela is very hopeful of good things to happen in the next four days.
Set to play today at Palos Verdes will be Marvin Mendoza, David park, Gabriel Yap, Jr., rookie Sircross Abarintos, and Gocela.
Mactan Island Golf Club and Club Filipino are bracketed in the third-ranked Sportswriters Division where the top seed is Camp John Hay.
Mactan was yet to announce its team that would be playing at the Apo Golf Club today while Club Filipino would be manned by Razy Razon, Kenneth Dyguani, Peter Militante, Raymond Garcia, and Jiji Gullas.
Gullas scored an eagle on the par-4 hole number 16 at Palos Verdes during their practice round yesterday.
The Championship and Founders teams are set to play at Palos Verdes while the Sportswriters and Friendship teams will play at Apo.
The two groups will switch courses tomorrow.
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. - THE FREEMAN