Luisita storms ahead by 18 points

DAVAO, Philippines – Lead man Iggy Clavecilla shot an eagle-aided 56 points and his teammates sustained the charge as Luisita found itself the bewildered leader with a whopping 18-point spread over favorite Canlubang with 158 output at the start of the 2009 Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors event here yesterday.

Pepot Inigo contributed 53 and Richie Garcia carded 49 under ideal playing condition at the Palos Verdes course as Luisita took the lead for the first time in four years in 2005 before the Sugar Barons established a three-year reign in the event.

Bong de Guzman didn’t count with 44.

“We’re encouraged by the first-day result but we can’t let our guard down. Tomorrow’s round is crucial. If we can maintain our lead or lose only a few points, then we would be standing on solid ground,” said Luisita team manager Joey Romasanta.

Canlubang was off to a slow start in its quest for a record “four-peat,” pooling only 140 on Tony Olives’ 50, Dave Hernandez’ 46 and either one of the 44s of Rolly Viray and Philip Brodett.

Viray, among the Sugar Barons’ top guns, struggled with his game due to an injured shoulder.

Texas Golf Club came in third with 139 counting the 48 of Sam Lardizabal, 46 of Mike Asero and 45 of Mel Acuna then Alabang checked in at fourth with 137 on the 46s of Edwin Arcilla and Francis Jimenez and the 45 of Buddy Velayo.

Manila Golf was fifth with 130, followed by Fil-Am Golf of Florida (110), Team Brookside (109) and Mercedes Plantation (107) in the championship flight of the PAL event sponsored by ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print Media Group, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network and Solar Sports with support from Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribbean, XFM 92.3, Pagcor, Rajah Broadcasting Network, Century Park Hotel and hole-in-one sponsor Honda Cars Davao.

The Luisitans dominated the field on opening day with Clavecilla sizzling with a two-under-par 70 on stroke play with an eagle and three birdies against a double-bogey and a bogey.

Clavecilla gave Luisita an early 10-point lead over Canlubang on his 56 against Hernandez’s 46.

Starting the round at the back nine of the well-manicured, Andy Dye-designed layout, Clavecilla went four under in the day after an eagle on No. 12 and birdies on Nos. 1 and 3.

The power-hitting Luisita ace eagled the No. 12 after hitting his seven-iron second shot from 160 yards to within five feet of the cup. Ironically, Hernandez staggered scoreless on the hole.

Clavecilla, however, hit into the water on the sixth hole that led to a double-bogey.

He finished at two-under with a birdie on No. 7 and a bogey on his closing hole.

Hernandez, a former pro, just couldn’t keep step with Clavecilla with six bogeys against a lone birdie.

Garcia lost a point to Olives in their match-up; De Guzman evened up with Viray before Inigo widened the gap as he went nine points up on Brodett.

Second round in the championship division will be played at Apo Golf with Luisita likely to tap Francis Gaston as its lead man while Canlubang may send Seniors individual champ Tommy Manotoc.

“I’m traditionally an Apo player. But we will play it by ear whomever we will field. Admittedly, Canlubang has a powerhouse team,” said Gaston.