Canlubang eyes PAL golf's precious gem

CAGAYAN DE ORO – With the first of two titles re-captured in emphatic fashion, Canlubang sets its sights on another PAL Interclub sweep and an unprecedented sixth straight crown in the men’s division of the country’s biggest golf team championship which fires off tomorrow at the Del Monte Golf Club.

And the pressure to win again somehow eases up for the perennial champions after The Country Club decided to skip this year’s staging of the annual event after two failed bids for what it termed as “unforeseen circumstances.”

“We have a good chance in the regular competition with the sudden withdrawal of The Country Club,” said Tommy Manotoc after steering Cangolf back to the seniors helm with a whopping 28-point romp over last year’s tormentor Luisita Sunday.

“They had a much better lineup than we did, lahat nung naglaro sa kanila last year, nandito sana (all who played last year should’ve been here). Talagang malakas sila (they’re really strong), unfortunately they are not coming,” said Manotoc.

But the Del Monte squad is here, ready to assume the challenger’s role from TCC and stop Canlubang’s quest for a record feat on a team built around reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla and a bunch of talented rookies raring to prove their worth in big-time golf.

“I will just do my best and contribute in the best way possible to the team,” Mondilla said in Filipino before teeing off Monday for his practice round at Pueblo de Oro here. “There’s no pressure, actually, only the eagerness to play.”

The enthusiasm mounts as the event draws near with Mondilla and company hosting the defending five-time champions in Bukidnon where they are expected to flash their local knowledge of the layout for the needed momentum going into the Pueblo course for the second round Thursday.

Action shifts back to Del Monte Friday before winding up at Pueblo Saturday.

“Del Monte will have the local advantage, having won here before,” said Manotoc, referring to the host’s first Interclub win in 2004. “It should be an interesting competition.”

Unlike in the seniors, it could really be an exciting title race with Manila Southwoods likely to be upgraded to centerpiece Championship Division with a talent-laden roster composed of former national team member Jun Jun Plana, former pro Vince Lauron, Teody Pacscual, and top jungolfers Miggy Yee and AR Ramos.

The Carmona-based squad actually topped the 2005 edition of the annual championship before Canlubang strung up victory after victory, capping its five-year romp with a clinical 22-point rout of TCC in Bacolod last year for its 17th Interclub diadem, the most by any club.

Manotoc admitted that his team will be hard-pressed to keep its reign after losing Asian Games silver medal winner Miguel Tabuena two weeks before the start of the event. With Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa now in the pro ranks and Jessie Balasabas couldn’t fit because of the new handicapping system, the Sugar Barons indeed will have a lot of work to do in the next four days.

In fact, Manotoc will again suit up for Cangolf for the leadership and experience while Jobim Carlos and Junior World champion Ruperto Zaragosa III will provide the exuberance of the youth against an equally young Del Monte team that includes Bannie Abaño, Noel Langgamin, Julius Bautista, Leonard Lofranco, Lawrence Cubillo, Magno Arancon, Mark Mondilla and Borjing Lusterio with playing captain Yoyong Velez backstopping the squad.

Meanwhile, for skipping the event, TCC, which boasts of a number of top amateurs in its stable, will be suspended next year and will have to reapply for membership if it wants to see action again in 2013.