MANILA, Philippines - Canlubang makes a bid for a three-peat against redemption-seeking Luisita and a host of rivals in the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub Seniors tournament beginning tomorrow at the Alta Vista Golf & Country Club and Club de Filipino Golf Club in Cebu.
The Sugar Barons are coming off a dramatic conquest in 2012 in Davao, where they rallied from 12 points down to beat a crumbling Luisita by three points for back-to-back titles and sixth seniors diadem overall.
Making things possible for Canlubang’s masterstroke of a triumph the last time was Tommy Manotoc, who sizzled with a whopping 53 on the final day to power the Sugar Barons to a winning 571.
It was the “sweetest victory,†described Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo, whose team will be looking to follow this up with another title romp in the Queen City of the South.
But Manotoc, also the president of the National Golf Association of the Phils., won’t be around this time although Canlubang remains as tough as ever with Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova and Dave Hernandez expected to step up along with Rene Unson, Philip Brodett, Tony Olives and Bing Bunye.
Tarlac-based Luisita, the leader entering the final round in Davao, lost their usually steady shotmaking when it mattered most and coughed out a closing 129 for 568, prompting skipper Iggy Clavecilla to vow for revenge in Cebu.
The other top teams in 2012 – Cebu Country Club (566), home team Alta Vista (525), and Camp John Hay (513) – are expected to give it their best to gatecrash or even spoil the anticipated Canlubang-Luisita showdown.
The Feb. 21-24 seniors division kicks off the 66th edition of the prestigious tourney, which will play its main fare – the Regular Men’s action – from Feb. 26 to March 2.
Main tourney will be played at the Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Country Club, which both place a premium on length and precision.
Holder Cebu CC is expected to make the most out of its familiarity with its home course as it aims to go back-to-back against 77 other teams and join some of the tournament’s elite teams of all-time.
For this tournament, the Cebu Country Club course will play to a par-72, compared to the usual par-71 with one par-5 converted into a par-4.
This year’s PAL Interclub is sponsored by 105.1 Crossover, Solar Sports, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, 92.3 FM Radyo 5, Araneta Coliseum and AXN. Major sponsors are Airbus, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcasting Network, People Asia, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC).
Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort & Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.