Talent-rich Barons drive for rare double in PAL interclub

DAVAO — Canlubang has the momentum and a talent-laden team to go for a rare double in the 59th PAL Interclub golf championship.

Fresh from its first ever triumph in the seniors class, the Sugar Barons will go for the men’s crown in the center piece event beginning tomorrow with a team of battle-tested veterans and Davao-based young recruits.

"We’ll definitely go for a championship double," said Canlubang team captain Luigi Yulo.

Canlubang dethroned Luisita in the seniors championship Sunday for its first crown in 19 years and hoped to duplicate its rival’s three double titles since the inception of the seniors division in 1988.

But it won’t be easy. Defending champion Manila Southwoods has beefed up its squad with two reliable Japanese teeners, one a former jungolf national champion, while Del Monte has also enlisted two seasoned players to firm up its bid for a second crown in three years.

The three teams are expected to shoot it out in two of Davao’s premier courses — the old Apo and the six-year-old Rancho Palos Verdes — which are in sharp condition for the meet but somehow softened with occasional rains the last few days.

The Barons, gunning for their 13th title, are bringing in two veterans whose amateur careers started in Apo — Jay Bayron and Boyet Zaragosa — and Davao youths in national caddies titlist Mario Labajo and brother Joseph and Junel Ababa although Canlubang’s final lineup will be submitted in the team captain’s meeting today.

The other Canlubang mainstays are Abe Rosal, former national amateur champ Jun Bernis, JR Tanpinco, ex-pro Dave Hernandez, Ronnie Torrecampo and Mark Fernando.

Missing in the list are brand new pro Juvic Pagunsan, Mari Hechanova and Matthew Manotoc.

Southwoods, which won the men’s crown in dramatic fashion last year in Bacolod, has recalled Toru Nakajima and tapped jungolf ace Michio Matsumura. The other big guns in the team are Tonlits Asistio, Mike Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Junjun Plana and Erwin Vinluan.

"It will be an exciting showdown. Canlubang has beefed up its squad with good Davao players but it will be the fielding of teams that would count in the end," said Southwoods skipper Thirdy Escaño.

Del Monte, winner in 2004 in Cagayan de Oro, has acquired PAL interclub veteran Iggy Clavecilla, who endured the effect of food poisoning playing for Luisita in the seniors, and former Southwoods club champion Marty Ilagan.

It has the core of the old team in Paul Miñoza, Louie Dacudao, Joel Opaco, Romeo Jaraula, Jett Plete, Arsenio Mondilla and team captain Ramon Velez.

PAL Interclub notes: Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, GE Aviation, GMA7, Honda Cars Davao, INQ7.net, Joey 92.3, Royal Caribbean International, Pagcor, People Asia, Premier Wine and Spirits, Rudy Project, Uraya Land and Devt. Corp. and UMBN are the event’s major sponsors. It is backed by ABS-CBN International, Fortune Tobacco and Radio Mindanao Network are the tournament’s corporate supporters along with 96.3 Wrock, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Honda Megamotors, SM City Davao and Tanduay Rhum.