Sweeter the 14th time around

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – This year’s PAL Interclub yesterday ended the way it did last year – with Canlubang winning it all and still yearning for more.

Behind a torrid front-nine that all but settled the issue, the golfers from Canlubang proudly hoisted their 14th championship and re-established their stature as the country’s finest when it comes to team competition.

No other team has won 14 titles in the 60-year history of the PAL Interclub. Sweeping both the seniors and regular divisions two straight years doesn’t come often, too, and Canlubang just became the latest to score the feat.

Luisita, which is no longer around in the PAL Interclub, is the other team that has swept the two titles in a single year. The Sweeties, in fact, have done it thrice in 1992, 1993 and 1998.

Next year’s PAL Interclub will be staged in Bacolod City. And this early, Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo is thinking of yet another sweep.

"Of course, we’re going to Bacolod next year. We will never get tired of winning," he declared shortly after the final round that was played at the El Pueblo Golf and Country Club.

Canlubang wrapped up the title with a final-round 146 as it turned the 6,385-yard layout into its own playground. Up by 12 at the start of the day, Canlubang ended up with 573 points, beating Southwoods by 24 points.

Southwoods, the 2005 champion, trailed Canlubang since Day One. It scored 134 points yesterday for its worst card following a 138, 135 and 142 in the first three days of competition for a total of 549.

A morning drizzle did not cool off the Calubang bets as Jonel Ababa, Mark Fernando and Dave Hernandez all had a 37 (one-under in medal play). Boyet Saragoza had a 35 while Mario Labajo did not count with his 34, a good score on any given day.

"Canlubang played exceptionally well this week. I have to give it to them," said Southwoods skipper Thirdy Escano.

Hoping for a big finish, Escano drew a weak finish with Michael Bibat carding the best for Southwoods at 36, followed by Gene Bondoc’s 35, Don Erwin Vinluan’s 34 and Miko Yee’s 29, the same output of Junjun Plana.

Del Monte, the 2004 winner, was third all the way. After a 137, 131 to 127 in the first three days, the hometown bets closed out with a 135 for a 530 total.

"The boys just played bad. I don’t know why. It could be the pressure," said Del Monte skipper Yoyong Velez, referring to the pre-tournament hype that was accorded the team that blazed to an opening-round 156 when it won the title in 2004.

Notes: Major sponsors are Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Callaway Golf, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation, Gecas, Mizuno, People Asia and Royal Carribbean while other backers are Business Mirror, Fortune Tobacco, GMA-7, Honda Cars Davao, Premier Wines and Spirits, Radio Mindanao Network, www.inquirer.net <http://www.inquirer.net/> , Century Park Hotel, Foreign Post, Lufthansa Technik and What’s On Expat Communications. Thanks to PAL oldies but goodies Eugene Labadan, Jun Canton, Raul Castro, Rosie Dizon and Pinky Mag-Iba Balagtas for making this coverage nice and easy.