Cebu romps off with title in style

DAVAO, Philippines  – Cebu Country Club finally nailed the big one, beating the very team that foiled its first crack at a PAL Men’s Interclub crown last year as it annexed its maiden Championship Division title after romping off with seven championships in its nine-year stint in the Founders class.

And the Cebuanos did it in grand fashion – their two former jungolfers in the final day roster played like veterans in a gut-wrenching stretch to thwart a charging Del Monte side anchored by two pro-bound players, winning their duel, 128-127, at the Apo layout and winning it all – 507-499.

It was far off Del Monte’s 18-point rout over CCC in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon last year but it proved sweeter for the Cebuanos, who got back and frustrated a Bukidnon-based squad that was all hyped up for a repeat with a solid crew led by pro-bound Clyde Mondilla and Banny Abano.

Not even an early charge by the Del Monte golfers could startle the gutsy Cebu side, which momentarily wavered at the front before settling down at the back where it rained pars and a sprinkle of birdies to dash whatever slim chance Del Monte had after moving within seven points in an exacting third round grind at Palos Verdes Friday.

Cebu closed out with a 128 for a 72-hole aggregate of 507, foiling Del Monte’s back-to-back bid and a first title shot away from home for an eight-point victory that meant so much for the club hosting the Interclub’s 66th edition next year.

“We will be hard to beat in Cebu,” said CCC chairman Montito Garcia after last man Gio Gandionco came through with a superb chip-shot for a tap-in birdie that drew cheers from his teammates while heralding the team’s ascent to the Interclub throne.

Del Monte didn’t need another year to find out how tough Cebu was, winding up with a 127 and a 499 and barely holding off a rallying Alabang Country Club. The Muntinlupa-based squad showed a lot of promise when it closed out strong with a 135, the best in the week at Apo, on AR Ramos’s 37 points, equivalent to one-under par in stroke play, and Andres Saldana’s 36 points, for a 493.

If not for their second day meltdown, where they pooled a measly 104 total, also here at Apo Thursday to drop out of the lead – and title contention –Alabang could’ve crowded Cebu and Del Monte for this year’s crown.

“We tried our best but the deficit (29 points) was too big. But I think our 135 was the best score in the tournament. We won for three days but the second day really hurt us,” said Alabang skipper Arnel Paras, referring to their second day collapse of 104 after emerging the surprise leaders in the first day.

But the week – and the title – simply belonged to this gritty bunch of Cebuanos and a Japanese.

Gandionco, 16, finished with a 34 and finished his stint with the team he had played with for five years. The former national team mainstay is set to leave for the US on a golf scholarship in Sta. Clara, California.

“There was pressure but I told myself to just hang in there,” said Gandionco, a Putra Cup veteran who overcame a two-point deficit after nine holes to beat recent top pro qualifier Abano, 34-33, in their head-to-head duel.

Lloyd Go, 17, who also had a stint with the national team in last year’s Putra Cup, and Mark Dy also churned out a pair of 34s while Eric Deen added a 26 for the team’s final day output.

Montito Garcia didn’t count with a 24 after a 30 at Palos Verdes, even losing to young JJ Gamolo, who had a 25 that also failed to count. But that didn’t matter as Dy outplayed Noel Langamin, 34-31, while Go matched former national champion Mondilla’s 34.

“Although we dominated the Founders Division, we were never that good as a team in the Championship. But our young players carried us through while we (Montito Garcia, Bayani Garcia and Eric Deen) provided the experience and poise,” said Carl Almario, who contributed 29 and 32 points at Rancho Palos Verdes.

Gen Nagai, the 15-year-old Japanese find who scored 34 and 35 at Palos Verdes and Apo, respectively, capped CCC’s domination of the event as he likewise took the individual crown for those who played both courses.

For a while, Del Monte had appeared headed for a repeat of Canlubang’s remarkable final round feat where the latter overhauled a 12-point deficit to beat Luisita by three and snatch the seniors crown last week.

Mondilla turned in a two-under card after 10 holes and Abaño made the turn at one-over to spark Del Monte’s rally that, however, proved short-lived as Cebu buckled down to work. Go fought back with two birdies and a slew of pars against two bogeys and a pick-up and Gandionco out-steadied Abaño in their backside duel.

“Our original game plan was just to get even with our playing partners,” said Garcia, who was in the middle of the five championship flights. “I would raise his right hand to signal to them to get going. But when I’m not, it meant everything is okay.”

After some anxious moments in the early going, Garcia hardly made any gesture at the back.Wack Wack cruised to a 15-point victory over Orchard in the Founders Division, assembling a 123 from Matthew Manotoc and John Gobing’s identical 32s, EJ Marcelo’s 31 and Gabriel Manotoc’s 28 points.

Orchard ended up with a 461 after a 112 with Allan Arcilla topscoring with 31 points while Negros scrambled with a 105 to finish third with 445, barely holding off host Apo Golf, which had a 444 after a 112.

In Sportswriters Division, Camp John Hay, behind Bong Jin Ho’s 32 and Kim Hwa Rang’s 30, romped away with a 23-point victory over Eagle Ridge with a final round 111 and a 411. Eagle Ridge shot a 101 to finish second at 388 while Iligan wound up third with a 383 after a 103.