Cebu Country Club holds on to the lead

Davao City, Philippines  – Cebu Country Club lost some of its lead, but still holds a seven-point advantage going to today’s final round of 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament here.

Playing at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club yesterday, defending champion Del Monte shaved three points off the lead of the Cebuanos pulling some surprises.

Cebu fired a total of 122 points yesterday, their worst round in the tournament, after opening with 123 also at Palos Verdes and shooting 134 at Apo Golf the other day.

Veteran Carl Almario led Cebu Country Club yesterday with 32 points while Jovi Neri added 31, Montito Garcia had 30, and Bayani Garcia shot 29. Marko Sarmiento scored 27, which did not count for the team total.

Montito Garcia, president of the Cebu Country Club, said yesterday that he is happy with the result despite the fact that they didn’t play too well.

“It’s a good result, but we didn’t have a good game. Bayani just couldn’t get it together, but we’re still seven up,” he said.

“I did not expect them (Del Monte) to get us, in fact we were only up by three points going to the last holes, but we finished strong,” Montito Garcia added.

Del Monte made 125 points yesterday behind the 35 of Leonard Lofranco, 34 of skipper Yoyong Velez, 30 or Magno Arancon and one of the 26s submitted by Mark Mondilla and Julius Bautista.

Montito Garcia said that he is fielding his strongest team today for the final round at Apo. Mark Dy will lead off for the Cebuanos followed by Montito then Lloyd Jefferson Go, Eric Deen and Gio Gandionco.

“It should be a good fight as Del Monte also has four of its top players seeing action,” he said.

Cebu Country Club has a total of 379 points while Del Monte has 372 on rounds of 123, 124, and 125.

Alabang had the best performance yesterday shooting 130 points for a three-day total of 358 after making 124 and 104 on the first two days.

The tournament requires a team to field five players per round, but only the four best scores would count for the team total. The Stableford or PAL Points System is being used.

Founders division

Wack-Wack held on to the lead in this group with a three-day total of 353 points on rounds of 117, 116, and 120. The teams for this second-ranked category also played at Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday.

Four points back is Orchard with 349 (117-111-121) while Negros is at third with 340 (106-114-120).

Apo follows with 332 (107-122-103), then Riviera 329 (108-121-100) and followed by Forest Hills with 323 (106-1205-112).

Valley has a total of 309 (102-100-107) followed by Villamor with 308 (96-103-109), Davao 308 (104-105-99), and Tagaytay Highlands with 307 (90-104-113).

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club slightly improved in the standings with a three-day aggregate of 301 points on rounds of 104, 92 and 105.

Edsel Tan led Alta Vista yesterday with 28 points while skipper Victor Gocela added 26 along with David Park. The last to count was Marvin Mendoza with 25. 

Twelve-year-old rookie Wei-Wei Gao fired 23 points, which did not count for the team total.

Sportswriters division

Camp John Hay leads this third-ranked category with a total of 300 points on rounds of 96, 107 and 97.

At second spot is Mt. Malindang with 291 (111-80-100) while at third is Eagle Ridge with 287 (109-81-97).

Mactan Island Golf Club struggled at Apo yesterday scoring 73 points for a three-day total of 253 after scoring 87 and 93 during the first two rounds.

Pio Barandong led Mactan with 23 points while Kim Agatep and Nilo Seno made 17 points each. Last to count was Gungun Gica with 16. Freddie Salimbangon, the team’s fifth player, could not find his mark yesterday and made only 5.

Club Filipino scored 81 points yesterday behind the 26 points of Evans Tumaliwan, 22 of Tedd Almario, 19 of Victor Yuvallos, and 14 of Lito Barino. Club president Boboy Durano fired 7 and did not count.

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, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel, and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu. (FREEMAN)