CCC keeps PAL Interclub crown

MANILA, Philippines - As planned and expected, the Cebu Country Club golfers dished out their best on the final day, and ended up hoisting their flag as winners of the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub men’s golf tournament.

It was the second straight title for the team which won last year’s crown at the Apo Golf in Davao. Yesterday, they did it on their home turf, the Cebu Country Club, before their own fans.

“This is very sweet – back-to-back for the first time. This is a new era in PAL golf,” declared Cebu CC playing captain Ramontito Garcia after the runaway victory.

It was the first time Cebu CC won back-to-back titles in the PAL Interclub, the longest-running team golf event in the country.

Mark Dy sizzled with 38 points equivalent to two-under-par 70. And he got all the support from the rest of the group with three others scoring 30 points or more.

Cebu CC closed out with 132 points for a four-day total of 507 and a commanding 16-point win over the young and talented team from Alabang.

Marko Sarmiento contributed 33 points for Cebu CC while Garcia chipped in 31 and Eric Deen 30. Japanese teenager Gen Nagai did not count with 28 but was part of it all.

Del Monte, the former champion, had 121 points on the final day and finished six points behind Alabang for third place.

Alabang is a very young team so rich in talent, and as long as it stays intact, it’s just a matter of time before it moves to the top.

Keanu Jahns, a half-German, led all scorers for the day with his 40 points for Alabang, followed by Jama Reyes with 31, Gabriel Manotoc with 28 and AR Ramos with 26. Santi Lorenzo did not count with his 18.

Alabang wound up with 491 points.

Sta. Elena, led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, came in fourth in the Championship division with 105 for the day and 383 for the tournament.

Garcia, always steady out in the course, fired 37 points but did not get as much from his teammates  

Cebu CC got off to a slow start at the Mactan layout last Wednesday but slowly picked up the pace until it opened up a nine-point lead entering the final day.

Yet, its team officials, including Cebu CC general manager Jeric Hechanova, insisted that it’s on the final day that the championship is won.

“Because there’s no guarantee here,” said Hechanova.

Garcia said days ago they wanted to have their strongest lineup on the final day. They did.

LJ Go, a 17-year-old who’s up for a golf scholarship at Seton Hall, helped Cebu CC build the third-round cushion, and watched his teammates finish the job yesterday.

Dy was a failure at Mactan and did not count with his 26 in the first round. But at Cebu CC he was at his best, hitting four birdies.

Del Monte drew 31 points from Reymon Jaraulla while Magno Arancon and Jets Sajulga carded 29 and 27 points.