Barons race to 11-point edge over Southwoods

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The young guns from Canlubang gave their elders a big reason to smile yesterday as the reigning PAL Interclub golf champion built a comfortable 11-point cushion at the Del Monte layout here.

Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa spearheaded the opening-day splurge for Canlubang which is hoping to defend the title it won last year, and bring its total number of PAL men’s golf championships to 14.

Fernando, 26, had six of Canlubang’s 19 birdies for a round of 39 under the PAL scoring system. Ababa had a 38 which is two-under 70 in medal play.

Rufino Bayron and Paul Echavez both chipped in a 36 while Joseph Labajo did not count with a 33, and the Sugar Barons called it a day with a 149 total, 11 points ahead of second-running Manila Southwoods and 12 up on home team Del Monte.

Last Saturday, the seniors team from Canlubang ably defended its own title, and gave its regular team a mission to follow in the last three days of this 60-year golfest, the country’s premiere team championship.

"We will try to pad this lead tomorrow. If we do, tapos na ito (then it’s over)," said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo as action in the five-to-play, four-to-count tourney shifts to the modern Pueblo de Oro Golf Club today.

"We could have done better. But we’re happy to bring this lead to Pueblo de Oro," added Yulo, who sounded both happy and surprised that Del Monte Golf, the 2004 champion, failed to cash in on its familiarity with the course.

"I’m surprised with Del Monte’s performance. Perhaps, they have other plans for tomorrow," added Yulo, expected to field reigning amateur champion Jay Bayron, Jun Bernis, Mario Labajo, Boyet Saragoza and Dave Hernandez today.

Manila Southwoods made noise with two eagles courtesy of Jong Laput (37) on the sixth and Anthony Fernando (38) on the 14th, and created some more with the disqualification of Tonton Asistio for not signing his own scorecard.

As a result, Asistio’s 33 did not count for the day, and the 31 of 10-year-old Miggy Yee did, along with Miko Alejandro’s 32. Despite the infraction, Asistio will still be allowed to play one more round.

For Del Monte, scoring for the day were Romeo Jaraula (36), Arsenio Mondilla (35), Belem Aranco (34) and Ben Miñoza who had a similar 32 with Jovanni Abanio. Hawaii Fil-Am was fourth at 112, followed by Riviera at 97 and Pinoy Vancouver Golf Club at 94.

In the Founders Division, over at Pueblo de Oro, Orchard showed the way with 120, towing Wack Wack at 116, Negros Golf 109, Cebu Country Club 109, Pueblo de Oro 108, Sta. Elena 102, Forest Hills 101, Sherwood 92 and Rancho Palos Verdes 87.