The pacesetters ended up tied for the lead and a battle-tested champ surged with a tournament best to join the fray four points adrift in the third round hit by controversies at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club course yesterday.
Del Monte pulled off a 132 boosted by a one-under 69 for 37 points by Ondoy Mondilla to catch Southwoods at the helm at 385.
Leader the past two days, Southwoods grimly hung on to a share of the lead with 128, opting to save a big gun for the final push today.
Hanson So, Jr. led the Carmona team’s scorers with 35 points, taking a break from a near infraction after he almost lost a ball from an errant drive that led to a heated exchange between a rules man and senior member of a rival team.
Multi-titled Canlubang made a tremendous comeback with a stirring 134, the best in three days on the 37 of Jun Bernis and a 34 of Juvic Pagunsan, who lost two points on penalty that fuelled an already tense situation in the day. Boyet Saragoza contributed 32 and young Matthew Manotoc a 31 for 381. Mari Hechanova didn’t count with a 29.
That brought the chief contenders to a thrilling showdown in the final round at the Negros Occidental layout today with an expected day-long shootout to the very last man.
The reigning titlist drew 34 points from Lino Retuerto, 31 from Buboy Jaraulla and a 30 from Jett Plete as it fanned its bid to retain the crown it won in a down-to-the-wire duel with Southwoods in Cagayan de Oro last year. Joel Opaco didn’t count for Del Monte with a 29.
The Southwoods crew pooled in 128 as Gene Bondoc pitched in a 33 and veteran Jun Jun Plana a 32 but the team could only gain 28 points from Miko Yee that enabled Del Monte to force the tie at the lead. Bong Brobio failed to count for Southwoods with a 25.
"It will be a fight to the last man, to the last hole," said Southwoods spokesman Jeric Hechanova.
Pagunsan was assessed a two-stroke penalty by rules man Jake Ayson of the NGAP as his caddie was found close to the line of play, standing behind Pagunsan as he made his putt on the 10th.
PAL senior individual winner Tommy Manotoc, a retired Canlubang ace, questioned the decision since he said Pagunsan’s bag-toter was off the green when he putted.
"We’re not complaining but the spirit of the rule is if you don’t have the intention to cheat, you’re not penalized," said Manotoc.
Things came to a head when So hooked his drive past the trees and into the adjacent fairways on the 15th and Manotoc maintained the former jungolfer exceeded the five-minute search period. He said So spent nine minutes looking for the ball and should be penalized for infraction.
A group of Manila photographers found the ball nestled on a lump of dried leaves near a tree and So was spared the penalty as Ayson said he used up only four minutes and 50 seconds in the search.
"I have a clear conscience. He didn’t break any rule," said Ayson.
The incidents further heightened the spirited chase for the championship crown as the three teams geared up for an exciting final day charge over at Marapara course whose severe and difficult conditions add up to the pressure-packed contest.
"We have accomplished something today despite the untoward incidents. We’re in a place we want to be," said Canlubang captain Luigi Yulo.
Del Monte will be bannered by skipper Yoyong Velez together with Louie Dacudao, who tamed Marapara with a 37 Thursday, Paul and Ben Miñoza and Tristan Tabanas.
"We have a very good chance. Last year we were in the lead after the third round and we made it and I think among the three our lineup is the most experienced," said Velez.
Southwoods tinkered with its lineup in the third day, reserving Singapore Amateur champion Michael Bibat to back up former national champion Artemio Murakami in the final battle together with Tonton Asistio, Laurence Negrido and Miko Alejandro.
"This is the best thing that ever happened in the Interclub with three teams having a crack at the championship. It will be an exciting finish," said Hechanova.
Cebu not only wrested back the lead in the Founders class but pulled away by 11 over Riviera as Carl Almario made 33 points and Andre Borromeo 30.
Sportsman Gene Aznar had 28 and Marko Sarmiento made 29.
The Cebuanos had 120 for 356, 11 up on Riviera (112-345) which leaned on the 36 of Ray Sangil and the 30 of Eric Gozo but reeled from the 24 of Jon Judan and one of the 22s of Tuan Nguyen and Bobby Iñigo.
Third place was Negros with 106-343. Scorers for Negros were Chris Infante 34, Max Javelona 26, Jae Yang 24 and one of the 22s of Jared Sanson and Jun Bantug.
Iligan led in the Sportswriters division with 108-323, followed by Sta. Elena at 107-303 and Iloilo 88-295.
In the Friendship class, Bacolod paced the field with 99-264, followed by Victorias with 89-259 and Stanford with 80-247.