MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon ,Philippines – With Tommy Manotoc on the firing end, Canlubang turned what was expected to be a fight-to-the-finish showdown with Luisita into a one-sided affair, seizing an 11-point bulge after the penultimate day of the 64th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub Golf Tournament at Del Monte Golf Club yesterday.
Tapped to play in the last two days for the senior Sugar Barons, Manotoc submitted 56 points in the Molave system, a sizzling two-under par 70 in stroke play, to lead Canlubang to a 154-point effort on Day 3, putting a lot more breathing space between them and their fiercest rivals.
Manotoc’s output, together with the 52 of Tony Olives and the 46 of Bing Bunye, gave Canlubang a three-day total of 460 points – a whopping 11 points ahead of the Luisitans going into today’s final round over at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.
Defending champion Luisita managed 147 points built around the 51 of Pepot Iñigo and the identical 48s of Minieng Maravilla and Bong Sison on the third day for 449 overall – a near-impossible task of staging a major comeback to salvage the title staring them in the face.
“It’s never over ‘til it’s over. But it looks really, really good,” said Manotoc, who tamed the tough Del Monte course by firing three birdies, including a five-pin-length putt, against a lone bogey, using a new custom-fitted Ping set.
Iggy Clavecilla, who the day before correctly anticipated that Manotoc would submit an under-par card, will spearhead Luisita’s final stand along with Francis Gaston, Lino Magpantay and Carlo Gamban.
“Magaling talaga (He’s really good),” Clavecilla said of Manotoc, who will again lead Canlubang’s assault in the last day of the event backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (DWWW).
The Tarlac-based crew vowed to wage one last battle, although no seniors team has ever wiped out that huge a deficit.
“Eleven points is not insurmountable. It’s going to be difficult but anything’s possible,” said Luisita manager Joey Romasanta. “The pressure is actually on Canlubang to maintain their lead. We will just keep playing catch up on them.”
“We’ll give it one big fight even though our chances are slim and none,” said Clavecilla, also the anchor of Luisita’s Day 2 fightback last Friday.
Alabang (420), Pueblo de Oro (405), and Alta Vista (393) trailed Canlubang and Luisita in the standings of the prestigious tourney that also has Asia Brewery, Inc., People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation and Traversing the Orient as major sponsors.
Manila Golf (424) and Zamboanga (356) paced the Founders and Friendship divisions, respectively.
The 64th PAL Interclub is also supported by corporate sponsor Bombo Radyo Philippines, while minor sponsors are Lufthansa Technik Philippines, MasterCard and Century Park Hotel. Prize donors are Panasonic Avionics and Tanduay.
Information: www.palinterclub.com.