DAVAO, Philippines – Cebu Country Club held sway despite giving up three precious points to Del Monte in the third round of the PAL Men’s Interclub at Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday, keeping a seven-point cushion after a 122 for a 379 but bracing for a battle royale with the defending champion in today’s finale at Apo Golf Club here.
“It’s a good result but we didn’t have a good game,” said CCC’s Montito Garcia, whose 30 counted for the team’s output that included a 32 from Carl Almario, a 31 from Joven Neri and a 29 from Bayani Garcia. Marko Sarmiento failed to count for the second time at the rolling layout where they matched Del Monte’s 123 total in the first round Wednesday.
Del Monte, which started the round 10 points adrift after getting outplayed by a gutsy CCC crew at Apo in the second round Thursday, pooled a 125, a remarkable performance given the tough playing condition and its back-up roster giving its frontliners some push heading to the final round back at the heavily wooded Apo layout.
Leonardo Lofranco fired 35 points to lead Del Monte’s fightback with team captain Yoyong Velez providing not just poise but also the points – a 34 that put the team on track for a back-to-back title run with a 54-hole aggregate of 372. Magno Arancon, Jr. added a 30 while Mark Mondilla finally counted with a 26.
“We have a strong team tomorrow (today). We know we can catch them (at Apo),” said Velez.
Alabang Country Club, which surprised the field with a swashbucking start of 124, came back to outscore the field again with an impressive 130. But its awful 104 at Apo in the second round took its toll on the youth-laden club as it managed to pool a 358, 21 points off the pace.
Justin Quiban shot the tournament-best 37 points, one-under par in stroke play, while Dax Garcia rebounded from a negligible 22 with a 34, AR Ramos debuted with a 30 and Jama Reyes added a 29.
“My boys can’t play good in old courses. But we will try,” said Alabang skipper Arnel Paras.
Manila Southwoods stayed in distant fourth at 330 after a 116 as Jik Jik Abdon carded a 34, Steve Yoon made a 32, and Theddy Pascual and Thirdy Escano chipped in 26 and 24 points, respectively.
Although Cebu has the lead and the talent to go for its first-ever Interclub crown, Del Monte has the momentum, not to mention manpower and experience of what it takes to win a championship.
“We’re fielding in our strongest lineup tomorrow (today),” said Garcia, referring to his crew of Lloyd Go, Eric Deen, Mark Dy and Gio Gandionco, who along with Japanese recruit Gen Nagai, shot a 134 in the second round to race to storm to a 10-point lead.
But Del Monte is also putting in its best, headed by pro-bound Clyde Mondilla and Banny Abaño, in what promises to be an explosive shootout between two clubs chasing a first in their respective Interclub campaigns.
Cebu is hoping to bring home a first-ever Interclub crown in time for its hosting next year while Del Monte is out to nail a first championship away from home after winning twice at home.
“We expect a good fight since Del Monte will also be fielding in four of its best players,” said Garcia.
Aside from Mondilla and Abaño, Velez is also pinning his hopes on Noel Langamin, Lawrence Cubillo and JJ Gamolo.
Like in the Championship Division, a two-team duel is also in the works in the Founders Division with Wack Wack scoring a 120, also at Palos Verdes, for a 353 total as it kept a four-point lead over Orchard, which had a 121 for a 349.
Oliver Gan rebounded from an inconsequential 20 at Apo Thursday and fired 32 points to lead Wack Wack, which also drew 31 points from Tommy Manotoc, a 30 from Garry Uy and a 27 from Gabriel Manotoc.
Orchard, which shared the lead with WW in the first round, leaned on the young Wolen Superal’s 31 points while brothers King and Ace Stehmeier and Tonito Payumo all carded 30 points for a 121 and a 349.
Negros also made a 120 but stood 13 points off Wack Wack at 340 while Apo Golf had a 103 for a 332.
Riviera stood far behind at 329 after a 100 but Alfonso Quitangon shared the third day spotlight by scoring a hole-in-one on No. 17 at Palos Verdes, winning a round-trip business class ticket to the US.
In Sportswriters Division, Camp John Hay, behind Steve McDonald’s 29, Jeff Razon’s 24, Jay Co’s 23 and Euls Austin’s 21, shot a 97 for a 300 as it posted a nine-point lead over Mt. Malindang (100-291) and 13 ahead of Eagle Ridge (97-287).
In Friendship play, Austral-Asian turned in a mind-boggling 96 at Apo after a 68-69 start, surging from fourth to the top with a 233 for a whopping 14-point lead over PGA British Columbia, which had an 82 for a 210 while former leader Fil-Am Hawaii had a 216 after a so-so 64. Fil-Am Hawaii had a 216 after a 64 while Cotabato and UP Tee Jots were tied at 210 after a 74 and 72, respectively.
The Platinum sponsors of the 65th PAL Interclub are Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five and GE while the major backers are Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.
Other backers of the annual event, the biggest amateur team championship, are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphics, Boeing International Corp., Bombo Radyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Moevenpick Resort and Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark and Spa Cebu.
Scores after 3 rounds:
Championship – Cebu 379 (123-134-122), Del Monte 372 (123-124-125), Alabang 358 (124-104-130), Manila Southwoods 330 (103-111-116), Fil-Am Fairfield 226 (76-72-78), San Juanico 217 (71-72-74), Pinoy Vancouver 201 (65-76-60), Brotherhood Sharp 164 (66-48-50), Greenhills West 162 (55-49-58), Mabuhay SFO 137 (38-52-47), Riyadh Golf 106 (28-52-26), Fil-Oz Sydney 104 (23-44-67)
Founders – Wack Wack 353 (117-116-120), Orchard 349 (117-111-121), Negros 340 (106-114-120), Apo Golf 332 (107-122-103), Riviera 329 (108-121-100), Forest Hills 323 (106-105-112), Valley 309 (102-100-107), Villamor 308 (96-103-109), Davao 308 (104-105-99), Tagaytay Highlands 307 (90-104-113), Alta Vista 301 (104-92-105), Palos Verdes 294 (97-105-92), Sta. Elena 281 (86-101-94), Phil. Navy 280 (104-95-81), Iloilo 263 (83-83-97), Manila Golf 251 (97-88-66), Redhawk 193 (70-63-60), Northgate 172 (41-54-77)
Sportswriters – Camp John Hay 300 (96-107-97), Mt. Malindang 291 (111-80-100), Eagle Ridge 287 (109-81-97), Iligan 280 (108-94-78), Zamboanga 277 (92-90-95), Lumbia 261 (92-83-86), Bacolod 257 (89-85-83), Mactan 253 (87-93-73), Sherwood Hills 248 (84-68-96), Lanang 244 (85-70-89), South Cotabato 237 (67-91-79), Stanford 225 (81-63-81), Victorias 193 (74-51-68), Reno Tahoe 166 (48-56-62), Moffet Fields 160 (53-50-57), Seattle 145 (53-45-47)
Friendship – Austral-Asian 233 (68-69-96), PGA British Columbia 219 (72-65-82), Fil-Am Hawaii 216 (80-72-64), Cotabato 210 (75-61-74), UP Tee Jots 210 (78-60-72), Pittsburg 193 (68-53-72), Skywest 191 (57-56-78), SFO Crystal Springs 181 (67-55-59), Figme 161 (60-41-60), Green Tee Riyadh 114 (39-32-43), Samahan/Greater Vancouver 111 (24-38-49)