Luisita extends lead to 14 vs Cebu

DAVAO, Philippines  – Luisita once again pooled the day’s best total and stretched its lead going into the last two days of the Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors golf tournament.

The Tarlac-based team was six points up on Cebu Country Club and 12 ahead of fierce rival Canlubang at the start of the day. But with 149 points yesterday, it moved even farther ahead.

Iggy Clavecilla and Seve Roxas-Chua both scored 51 points while Pepot Inigo chipped in 47 at the rolling Rancho Palos Verdes course. Lino Magpantay, the fourth man, didn’t count with his 43.

The Cebuanos, who can prove a lot of people wrong just by finishing second here, fired a second straight 141 behind Lor Alaan’s 50, Clifford Celdran’s 46 and Koichi Horii’s 45. Shigeo Saito put in 39 points.

Canlubang drew 53 points from Dave Hernandez, and 46 each from Rolly Viray and Bing Bunye for 145 points after an opening-round 135 at the longer Apo layout. Luigi Yulo can’t do better than 45.

Luisita, now 14 up on CCC and 16 ahead of Canlubang, will play catch-me-if-you-can as the seniors event of the country’s oldest golf team championship enters its last two days at Palos Verdes and Apo.

Since the seniors class was included in the PAL Interclub in 1987, Luisita has won the crown 14 times, with a streak that lasted from 2000 until 2005. It last won the championship in 2010.

Clavecilla, always easy to spot with his colorful golf attire, said it’s not over yet.

“What we want to avoid is having that frame of mind of playing not to lose. We will still play aggressively,” he said after his round spiked by a chip-in birdie on the par-4 No. 16.

“Tsamba (Fluke),” said Clavecilla, who played on an empty stomach. With three holes left, he said he was already as hungry as the crocodiles being kept and bred within the Palos Verdes course.

“It’s not safe yet,” he said of Luisita’s lead with still two days left.

Tommy Manotoc, the heart and soul of the Canlubang squad, sat out the first two days. Now he has no choice but to come out on the last two days, and show everyone what he’s got.

“We were surprised they did not field Tommy,” said Clavecilla. “Baka naka-reserba para sa gitgitan (Maybe he’s being reserved for the grind up ahead).”

Manotoc, who was out practicing at Palos Verdes the other day, said all’s not lost on Canlubang keeping the title and winning its sixth crown over the last seven years.

“Still possible,” he said, “but difficult to do.”

Manila Golf relied on banker OV Espiritu’s 144 points for a two-day 272 and a 13-point lead over Apo Golf and Eagle Ridge in the Founders Division over at the Apo layout.

Espiritu scored 51 points as Manila Golf also drew 49 from Senior rookie Arsenic Laurel and 44 from Brian Cockrell. The 42 of Fausto Preysler failed to count.

The platinum sponsors of the 65th Interclub are Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five and GE while the major backers are Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.

Also lending support are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphics, Boeing International Corp., Bombo Radyo, Moevenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu.