Del Monte all geared up for back-to-back

DAVAO ,Philippines  – With two of its spearheads all primed up for the pros and perennial champion Canlubang taking a leave of absence, Del Monte looms as the heavy favorite when the men’s championship of the 65th PAL Interclub is fired off tomorrow at the Apo Golf Club and Rancho Palos Verdes here.

“Practically we will have the same line-up,” said Del Monte playing captain Yoyong Velez, whose wards dominated the field at home last year to annex what was only their second Interclub crown. “We are definitely a contender.”

That was an understatement. For Del Monte has been installed as the solid favorite weeks before the event owing to its intact roster headed by Banny Abano and Clyde Mondilla, who are coming off remarkable finishes in last week’s Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School.

Abano humbled the veteran pro campaigners and topped the 54-hole elims at Tat Filipinas, winning by eight strokes over Mondilla and two others as the duo underscored their readiness for big-time golf.

“Yes, I will turn pro after the Interclub,” said Abano, thrilled over the prospect of handing Del Monte its first back-to-back title romp and his upcoming pro stint, which starts next month.

Mondilla, the former national champion, will also join the pro ranks after this event and, like Abano, wants to leave the amateur ranks on a winning note and at the same time help anchor the team’s bid for a first Interclub crown away from home.

Backstopping the defending champions are Noel Langgamin, Leonardo Lofranco and Vince Lusterio, all products of the Living My Dream Foundation, a golf program Velez had put up with Martin Lorenzo, Iggy Clavecilla and Andy Dumlao for homegrown talents whom they develop and train to become top-caliber players.

Del Monte scored a breakthrough when it hosted the 57th edition of the country’s biggest amateur golf team championship in 2004.

And the pressure to win again – but on a different venue – also eases up for the Del Monte golfers after Canlubang, which won five straight from 2007 until the Bukidnon-based squad stopped the streak, opted to skip this year’s Interclub owing to the exodus of its former mainstays to the pro ranks.

Cebu Country Club, bannered by a gutsy crew led by Carl Almario, will be out there to spoil Del Monte’s bid and achieve what it had failed to do last year. The Cebuanos started out strong to lead the star-studded field but lost steam in the stretch, settling for runner-up honors after nipping the Canlubang side in the tiebreak.

Manila Southwoods, a team so rich in Interclub history, is also tipped to crowd Del Monte and Cebu Country Club in the five-to-play, four-to-count format event backed by Platinum sponsors Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media and Media Five with Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus as major backers.

Although Del Monte appears to have the overwhelming edge in manpower and talent, a down-to-the-wire finish is not being ruled out with Cebu Country Club and Manila Southwoods out to duplicate Canlubang’s improbable come-from-behind victory over Luisita in the just-concluded seniors play.

Meanwhile, Fil-Am Hawaii foiled Davao and Chamorro to rule the Sportswriters division while Intramuros cruised to a 53-point romp in the Friendship class of the PAL Interclub seniors play last Sunday.

Pat Viernes scored 47 points at Rancho Palos Verdes to steer Fil-Am Hawaii to a six-point victory over Davao. Wilfred Pacpaco and Buddy Gendrano added 32 and 28 points, respectively, for Fil-Am Hawaii, which pooled a 72-hole total of 479 points.

Davao closed out with 121 points as Nick Olarte shot 43 points and Jimmy Testado and Oscar Lopez added a pair of 39s as the host edged last year’s winner Chamorro by one point for runner-up honors.

Chamorro drew 41 points from Ben Palomo while John Camaco and Frank Cruz each turned in 33 points.

Intramuros, behind Rupert Bayocot’s 44 points, Manny Luzon’s 41 and Rocky Umeda’s 34, stamped its class in the Friendship category with 442 points.

Fil-Am Florida placed a distant second with 389 points as Alex Bordallo made a 37, Hector Vargas added a 33 and Alex Bautista chipped in 29 points.

Southbay wound up third with 384.

Canlubang fought back from 12 points down to beat Luisita and win the coveted crown in the Championship Division while Manila Golf Club ruled the Founders side.

Other supporters of the event are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphic, Boeing International Corp., GECAS, Bombo Radyo, Moevenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu.