Sweeties wrest PAL interclub golf lead

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- The Annual PAL Interclub spectacle literally opened a day late but it still offered the same great stars and great teams in the country's longest running amateur golf road show.

With the event battered by the rains a day earlier in one of the region's oldest courses, forcing an outsider to take the front act, the main cast took center stage yesterday and order returned to the Interclub at its brand-new venue.

Eight-time champion Canlubang seized the initiative at the Pueblo de Oro with 137; seven-time titlist Luisita sizzled with 144, easing the trauma of its disastrous start, and title defender Manila Southwoods wheeled into strong contention with 134.

At the end of the day, the Sweeties took over from surprise first day leader Wack Wack with 271 for a four-point lead, Luisita roared back mightily from its anemic 123 opener to be at second at 267 and Southwoods stayed within striking distance at 264. Wack Wack reeled from a poor 107 and ended up with 244 while Del Monte had 117 for 247.

"This will be another down-the-wire finish, in the tradition of the Interclub, and it will be crucial in the last two days," said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo.

The Sweeties found the momentum to mount a charge on mainstay Jun Bernis' 37 points, and he was backed up by the 34s of Juvic Pagunsan and Jun Cedo and one of the 32s of Rolly Viray and Jose Mari Hechanova.

Luisita leaned on the top scoring card of 38, two under par 70 in medal play, of Louie Dacudao, 1998 national amateur finalist, and the impressive 37 of businessman Jojo Guingona--the biggest boost in its comeback. Angelo Que added a 35 and Jinky Tuason a 34. Such was Luisita's redhot offensive that senior player Alex Montelibano's 32 points didn't count.

Dacudao's 38 stood as the day's best until Pepot Iñigo of Riviera, a former national shooter and playing in the Founders, fired 39 points on a 69 card at Pueblo nearing twilight. Tibor Marcelino of Davao also had a 38 late in the day.

Southwoods pooled a 134 output through the efforts of Chuchu Martinez and Hanson So, Jr., firing 35s, and Juami Rocha and Jun Jun Plana with 32 each while Minieng Maravilla's 31 didn't count.

Del Monte submitted two 31s of Ben Miñoza and Lino Retuerto, a 28 by Joel Bernaldez and a 27 by the company's top honcho Cito Lorenzo. Flor Badelic was out of team score with 24.