Canlubang guns for 3-peat in PAL golf

BACOLOD – The senior team of defending champion Canlubang hopes to lay the groundwork for a record-matching “three-peat double” when the PAL Interclub golf team championship begins at the Marapara and Binitin courses today.

The Barons will be fielding the core of their victorious crew last year further boosted with the entry of a veteran shotmaker with an impressive credential as a former national player and a pro.

A field of 160 teams with 83 in the Seniors, now on its 22nd edition, and 77 in the regular Men’s event which holds its 61st revival next week, makes this year’s event, long acknowledged as the unofficial national team championship, as the biggest since the inception of the Interclub in 1948.

In fact, an ever burgeoning cast of international clubs – 35 in the Seniors and 34 in the Men’s side – with teams coming from the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and China – has prompted organizers to use a new format for the Seniors.

Competition has been spread out to four days this time with eight-member teams fielding four men each day with best three cards counting for the team aggregate.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, PAL president Jaime Bautista, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club president Panio Torre and top golf pro Frankie Miñoza hit the ceremonial drives at the NOGCC yesterday to officially kick off the two-week event.

Still the focus of this year’s Seniors will be on Canlubang as it attempts to become only the second club in Interclub history to rule both divisions three straight years over the par-70 layouts with Marapara getting major facelift and extra yardage in a number of holes for the occasion.

Luisita, the 13-time Seniors winner, holds the distinction of scoring the double three-peat, claiming the honors in 1991 to 1993.

The Barons recalled their lineup, which turned back archrival Luisita for a decisive 15-point victory last year in Cagayan’s Pueblo de Oro, and inserted in the list veteran Dave Hernandez, a former Putra Cup individual titlist.

That further boosted the Barons offensive clout built around perennial individual winner Tommy Manotoc, double senior and national amateur titlist Rolly Viray, Canlubang manager Luigi Yulo, Baxo Adriano, skipper Tony Olives, Bing Bunye and businessman Lino Magpantay.

“We have a seasoned team and chances of winning our third straight title with Dave are stronger this year,“ said Olives.

Luisita, the only team capable of thwarting the Barons record bid, has virtually conceded the 22nd Seniors crown to the reigning champs.

“Sobrang lakas (Too formidable). But we’ll give them a good fight,” said PSC commissioner Richie Garcia.

Luisita will bank on old reliables Francis Gaston, another RP amateur and senior champ, Iggy Clavecilla, Carlo Gamban, King Sumulong, Freddie Mendoza and new recruits Pepot Inigo and Bong Sison.

This year’s Interclub is backed by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, and Solar Sports. The major sponsors are Action Asia, Business Mirror, Crossover, Pacsports and Royal Caribbean. Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia and RMN are the corporate sponsors while Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik and Patio Pacific Boracay are the minor sponsors.