Young Turks invade turf in PAL Interclub

Cagayan de Oro – A changing of the guard.

That seemed to be the theme prevailing in the current 57th PAL Interclub golf team championship with a slew of jungolfers playing man-sized game and a host team on the brink of dethroning the old champ.

And the old mainstays, fixtures of many an Interclub the past 35 years, could not have been glad for this turn of events.

"This is the best thing that ever happened to the Interclub, or the Philippine golf for that matter, seeing these young players playing the way they do on a big event like this," said Canlubang ace Tommy Manotoc.

Taking the cudgel for jungolf at club-level was the key, said Manotoc, noting that the full support given to young players by such clubs as Southwoods and Del Monte had ensured the success of youth programs as could be gleaned in the current Interclub.

Canlubang itself which had a successful recruiting scheme that had led to 12 overall titles and four crowns in a row is actually feeling the pinch, with some of their big guns in mid-40s, and now in the process of reviewing its own program and may do some scouting for young players. In fact, Manotoc has tapped four Davao teeners from Apo and will develop their potentials either in Calatagan or Canlubang.

"Are we disappointed with our performance here? Of course but we’re not unhappy with what we see — young blood holding their own against us. It’s a positive sign for Philippine golf," said Abe Rosal, adding, in jest, that Canlubang has a – developmental program – but for the seniors.

* * *

Top Filipino pro Frankie Miñoza is also getting into thick of things as far as junior golf is concerned. He plans to put up a summer junior circuit for Visayas and Mindanao and has drawn enthusiastic response from people like Marco Lorenzo, top official of Del Monte and Cebu’s Montito Garcia.

"The plan is to invite these youth players for a summer tour and to keep their parents from worrying over their safety, we will encourage home stays. I could have maybe 10 kids in my house and others may do the same," said Miñoza who broke into national prominence as a 13-year-old in the Baguio PAL Interclub.

He also said he has been giving away his old sets to promising kids in the neighborhood.

Miñoza, who walked out the RP Open in Riviera two weeks ago with his Japanese visitors denied berths by organizers, also took a swipe at the NGAP for discontinuing some events this part of the country like the Visayas and Mindanao regionals and the Southern Invitational.

* * *

How good were the members of Del Monte? Miñoza said he would put tokens of P50 bets and give them two-stroke handicaps during practice rounds. "I would shoot 66 but I couldn’t beat them," he said.