Cangolf keeps PAL Interclub seniors title

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Canlubang underscored its solid lineup as the shocking disqualification of its top gun hardly slowed down its march to a second straight PAL Interclub seniors crown.

The Barons pulled off a 15-point victory over archrival Luisita with a closing 246 for 498 despite losing a top-scoring one under-par 55 card by perennial individual winner Tommy Manotoc, disqualified from signing a wrong scorecard at the Pueblo de Oro yesterday.

That secured the defense of its senior crown with the Barons, bidding for a repeat of their championship double last year, bracing for the second part of their mission, keeping the regular men’s title against a tougher field beginning Wednesday in two courses here.

The Barons, holding a six-point edge overnight, made a decisive drive on the front nine at the rugged Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout and won pulling away from a seven-man Luisita squad which had only 237 for 483. Former RP seniors national player Bing Bunye and businessman Lino Magpantay touched off the Barons’ run with 50 and 48 points, respectively, and skipper Tony Olives gained the crucial win over former senior titlist Francis Gaston with 50 points.

Long-time team manager Luigi Yulo had 49 to edge American Tom Culligan (47). Manotoc could have beaten Richie Garcia, who had 48, while ex-national amateur ace Rolly Viray turned back Iggy Clavecilla, 49-47, in the last flight in the day. Gaston ended up best scorer for the team with 49.

Luisita played minus Freddie Mendoza who was out with a bum stomach. Bong De Guzman had 46 while Cesar Muñoz (38) and King Sumulong (45) didn’t count for Luisita. Baxo Adriano (43) and Dan Patalot (45) were out of the Barons scores.

But Canlubang’s victory romp was dampened by Manotoc’s disqualification after he signed a 3 put in by marker Caloy Coscolluela of Alabang on his scorecard for a four on the par-4 16th hole.

"My mistake," said Manotoc, ever the sportsman who was informed of his disqualification while being interviewed by media men. "Now everything has happened in my golfing career."

He was on line for a fourth straight individual seniors title, going three under par on the front nine, the front side of his final round, but bogeyed two holes and double-bogeyed one on his homeward trip.

Olives came up with the best two-day output for the team for 101 (51-50) but lost out in the individual race to Del Monte’s Nonoy Dulfo, who rallied with 55 points on his home course.

Thus, the Barons claimed their second seniors title after their breakthrough win in Davao and looked forward to a long reign with a lineup expected to remain intact for years.

"We played well and the key (to the win) was we have a balanced team capable of scoring an average of 50 points and a 250 total on a normal day," said Olives.

Alabang took third with 476, Manila Golf fourth with 465 while Manila Southwoods, which was running third before the round, settled for fifth place at 462 as individual leader Korean Jeong Tae Hur blew his bid with a 44.

In the Sportswriters class, veteran Norman Tugot fired a 48 and Cesar Castro had 47 to lead Eagle Ridge to the championship with 222 and 439, three shots ahead of second placer Del Monte, which beat Paoay in a tiebreak.

Del Monte, getting a big boost from Dulfo’s 55, and Paoay had identical 436s on 228 and 224, respectively, but the home team took runner-up honors on a better score of its sixth man – either Mike Comique or Pete Lerin – both shooting 38 points. Paoay had 31 through George Kawachi.

Host team Pueblo de Oro rode on the 54 of Rey Orimaco and the 50 of Rolly Uy together with the 48 of Clifford Celdran, 46 of Ed Yap and 43 of Oscar Lagua to win the Founders Division with 241-466. Wack Wack came in second with 224-454 while Valley placed third with 453.