Pint-sized wonder powers Cangolf

BACOLOD , Philippines – Mark of a champion.

A resilient Canlubang sprang back with an impressive 137 from the same bunch that blew the team’s three-point margin in the second round Thursday as it got back at a faltering The Country Club to move closer to a record fifth straight PAL Interclub men’s championship with a whopping 11-point lead in the third round at the Bacolod Golf Club in Binitin here yesterday.

Ruperto Zaragosa III, a 12-year-old lad barely five-feet tall, stood tall with a brilliant 35-point output, one over par in stroke play, as he redeemed himself big-time from a disastrous 83 or 23 points over the same course in the second day to share the day’s scoring honors with Jesse Balasabas, who also atoned from a previous 30 with an equally impressive 35 points.

“I’m very happy,” was the Grade 6 pupil from the Morning Star Montessori in Calamba, Laguna could say as he ran to his proud parents after turning over his card that included three birdies against four bogeys.

“He deserves to be in this team,” said Cangolf skipper Luigi Yulo, referring to Zaragoza, who took over the spot of team coach and veteran Interclub seniors and men’s campaigner Tommy Manotoc.

Art Arbole likewise fought back from a so-so 31 with a 34 as the troika relegated fancied Jhonnel Ababa to the background with a 33 that completed ICTSI-Cangolf’s 137 and a 403 aggregate. Joey Huerva didn’t count with a 29.

The Country Club, which showed a lot of promise when it stormed ahead in the second with a second 134, cracked in sweltering summer heat and under the torrid charge by the Sugar Barons as it limped home with a paltry 124 for a 392.

Despite a seemingly insurmountable lead, Yulo opted to downplay his team’s chances for a record fifth straight crown in what has been regarded as the national golf team championship.

“They still have a lot of firepower left,” said Yulo, referring to TCC’s final day cast of pro-bound Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron, national pool mainstay Peter Villaber and local bets JR Tanpinco and Erwin Madrileno.

Luisita actually battled back from 12 points down in the final day to beat Southwoods in the 1998 edition of the annual event in Davao.

But Yulo added that if his wards could hang on to their 11-point bulge after nine holes, then it’s all in the bag for the Sugar Barons.

“Our strategy worked but I think we have to maintain our lead at the least in the first nine holes to make it again,” said Yulo.

Zanie Boy Gialon came through with a one-under 69 worth 37 points but that was the only good thing that turned out right for the ICTSI-TCC squad, as the tournament heads back to the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club for the final round.

Fil-Am Carl Ocampo, who debuted with 35 points Thursday, held his own with 34 points but the team’s three other players, Madrileno, Alex Nallos and Dante Becierra dished out what seemed to be the kind of games suited up for the lower divisions.

Becierra, a former Hong Kong Open champion, hobbled home with 25 points.

Madrileno, a local talent whom TCC coach Bong Lopez had pinned his hopes for in the final two rounds, got blown off by Ababa with 28 points while Nallos was humbled by Zaragoza all day and was bumped off the scoring list with 25 points.

Unlike his counterpart, Cangolf coach Tommy Manotoc wisely stuck to his second round team, which played below expectations Thursday but played like one cohesive, fired-up unit to put the team into the threshold of another sweet victory.

It’s all up for Mhark Fernando, Alvin Engino, Jobim Carlos, Paul Echavez and Abe Rosal to finish the job.

The event is presented by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, 105.1 Crossover and Radio Mindanao Network. Major sponsors are Action Asia, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, People Asia and Royal Caribbean. The corporate backers are Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, www.philstar.com, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network and Resort World Manila. Century Park Hotel, DWWW 774 AM, Panay News, Master Card and Thales Aerospace are minor sponsors.