Mabuhay snares seniors title

DAVAO CITY — Mabuhay Golf Club, whose members include a son of a Filipino legend, shot a final 178 points yesterday to become the first winner in the 17th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub championships.

Tom Culigan, a wealthy real estate owner in the Bay Area, California, starred for Mabuhay when he played Lanang with a seven over par 79, which is worth 47 points in the modified Stableford scoring system.

The other scorers were Gerry Sy with 35, Ricardo Tan with 33 and James Gillete with 30. Hector Montes also made 33 but his presence evoked memories for he happens to be the son of the late legend Larry Montes.

Together with their first round 209, the Californians from the Bay Area wound up with a 387 to run away with the Friendship Division championship.

This year’s tournament is backed by major sponsors 105.1 Crossover, ABS-CBN Global, Air Philippines, Airbus, CNN International, Fortune Tobacco, GE Aircraft Engines, Joey 92.3; MTV Philippines, PLDT, Premier Wine and Spirits, Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International, The Marco Polo Davao and UMBN/Mindanao Times.

The corporate sponsors are 96.3 WRock, Apo View Hotel and Boeing International Corp., Accel Sports Gear, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Tanduay Rhum, Taylor Made, Nestle Philippines and Discovery Channel are the minor backers.

Over at the Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, Manila Southwoods, displaying a well-balanced slate, shot a first-round 239 to steal the thunder from defending champion Luisita.

"It’s nice to win again," said Mabuhay team captain Joseph Libunao, originally from Bulacan and a retired PAL employee. "We had won the Founders‚ Division trophy in 1995 but we were relegated due to poor play."

Ken Onda toured the Rancho Palos Verdes course with a one over par 73 to lead the parbusters from Carmona, Cavite. In the modified Stableford scoring system, that’s worth 53 points.

Locally, this system is more known as Molave, which awards one point for a double bogey, two bogey, three par, four birdie, five eagle and so forth.

Manila Southwoods‚ performance was the most impressive since the event began Friday as Butch Brodett and Ruben Moyer backed Onda with 48 apiece. Fred Carandang contributed 46 and Floren de los Santos added 44.

So balanced was the team Ben Borja and Pico Ching came up with 43 each and they didn’t since only the best five out of eight players are counted each round.

Despite Manila Southwood’s impressive start, however, Luisita remained focused on its four-peat bid in the Championship Division when it came up with 233 points, just six behind.

Taiwan also had a 233 while Wack and Villamor each scored 228.

Antipolo City’s Valley Golf and Country Club and Orchard Golf and Country Club of Dasmarinas, Cavite scored similar 229 to share third place, followed by Pueblo de Oro 234, Cebu Country Club 223 and Manila Golf and Riviera with 220s.

Philippine Navy came up with 173 to place second behind Mabuhay with 367 while first-timer Rancho Palos Verdes closed out with 158 to settle for third place with 357.