SW-Masters eyes No. 5 at PAL Ladies Interclub

MANILA, Philippines - Southwoods-Masters tries to bring its winning run to Bacolod as it guns for a fifth straight championship in the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub which unfolds Oct. 8 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

SW-Masters, which rallied to edge Cebu Country Club by a point last year at ravine-laden Alta Vista in Cebu, will be shooting to keep its domination of the field again but faces a tougher challenge, not just from its rivals, but also from the course that gives no one an edge and would require accuracy from every player.

The par-72 NOGCC, which used to be the Marapara layout, remains one of the country’s most challenging courses with its tight fairways and tree-lined make up not to mention its tricky putting surface.

Unlike Alta Vista, Marapara, which is relatively short by international standards, will punish wayward shots as its greens are much smaller, thus requiring accurate approach shots and short games.

There will be a total of 19 teams seeing action in the three-day event where titles in the Championship, Founders, Sportswriters and Friendship divisions are at stake.

Aside from Masters and CCC, the other participating clubs are the Alabang Country Club, Apo Golf and Country Club, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club, Bacolod Golf and Country Club, Manila Golf Club, Iloilo Golf Ladies Club, Manila Southwoods Masters Team, Negros Occidental Golf Club, Pueblo de Oro Golf Team, Rancho Palos Verdes Golf Club, Valley Golfer and Country Club, Victorias Golf and Country Club, Mactan Island Golf Club-Team B, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Del Monte Golf Club, Eagle Ridge (Ladies Group), Davao City Golf and the Club Lady Eagles Australian Golfers, the only foreign-based squad.

The Molave point system will be used for the event, sponsored by Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Travelife, Business Mirror, Airbus, Splash Philippines, Wealth Inc. and East Gate Publication.

A team captains’ meeting will be held on Oct. 7 to be followed by the ceremonial tee-off and captains’ tournament.