Pueblo storms to 6-pt edge over Luisita

CEBU CITY, Philippines – While all eyes were on defending champion Canlubang and Luisita, Pueblo de Oro – a team led by Cebuano bets – stole the thunder and zoomed to the lead at the start of the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub senior tournament yesterday at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club here.

Clifford Celdran, retired manager of Cebu Country Club who now serves as consultant to Pueblo, fired a one-under-par 71 at the up-and-down course that baffled most of the competitors to log 55 points under the Molave system and tow the Cagayan de Oro-based squad to a leading 153 points.

Fellow Cebuano Victor Yuvallos, a member of Alta Vista, submitted 52 points to reinforce Celdran’s three-birdie, two-bogey stint while Ed Yap carded a 46 as fourth-ranked Pueblo de Oro seized a six-point lead over fancied Luisita (147) and eight ahead of defending back-to-back champion Canlubang (145).

“Our familiarity with the course helped us here,” said the 65-year-old Celdran, who will see action again today when hostilities shift to Club Filipino Golf Club, where the big guns are expected to make their move.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia submitted 54 points, equivalent to an even-par 72 in stroke play, to lead Luisita’s shaky opening bid. Francis Gaston limped home with a 47 points while Seve Roxas Chua carded 46 points for the Tarlac-based team.

“Fortunately, I had the opportunity to play a round here (Alta Vista) two weeks ago so I already had a feel of the course,” said Garcia, who had four birdies, including a pair of long-distance putts on Nos. 10 and 17, to offset the same number of bogeys.

The best the Sugar Barons could offer at the tournament’s kickoff was a 50, equivalent to four-over in stroke play, courtesy of Mari Hechanova.

Rolly Viray submitted a 49 while Rene Unson returned to the clubhouse with a 46 as Canlubang settled for 145.

“Not bad. For me, this is a hard course, you choose the wrong club you’re almost certain to OB (out-of-bounds). Plus we hardly had time to practice due to rains,” said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo.

In the Founders division, Manila Golf took a one-point lead against Redhawk, 146 to 145.

Bryan Cockrel submitted a 52 while Fausto Preysler and Conkoy Tuason added 49 and 45, respectively, for Manila Golf.

Bob Welsh (50), Davis Capistrano (49) and Jimmy Velasco (46) scored for Redhawk.

Home squad Alta Vista took third position with 142 via the 48 of Akira Hatano and the 47s of Ed Acain and Agapito Suan.

The 66th PAL Interclub is sponsored by the Department of Tourism, 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 while minor sponsors are Ginebra San Miguel (non-alcoholic beverages) and Rogue Magazine. Donors are Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Tanduay Distillers, Dusit Thani Manila and Petron Corporation.