S’woods nears 3-peat with Blast of subpars

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – Firing on all cylinders, Manila Southwoods scorched Rancho Palos Verdes with a record-setting salvo of under-par rounds to virtually put a lock on a three-peat in the 70th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s Championship.

With all five fielded in the penultimate round – Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa (42 points), Liam Cully (38), Carl Corpus (38), and Jama Reyes (37) and Aidric Chan (37) – breaking pars, Southwoods turned in a red-hot 155 – an Interclub high – to make it a 38-point gap against closest pursuer Canlubang entering the final day.

Canlubang, which trailed by only 14 at the halfway point, couldn’t keep in step with the hot-shooting defending champions. It managed a 131-point card in the third round for 389 overall against Southwoods’ 427 – a big margin to overhaul over at the tough tree-lined layout of Apo Golf in today’s concluding play.

“There’s still one round left to be played, but now I am confident of our chances,” said Southwoods non-playing skipper Thirdy Escano.

Southwoods’ youthful cast turned Round 3 into a one-team show, with Reyes firing an eagle on the par-5 No. 8 and 14 other birdies among themselves as they put more distance from the challengers.

“I don’t recall anything like this happening before. This (third round gambit) worked out better than I planned,” said Escano.

Katsuragawa gunned down six birdies in a bogey-free 66 – a tournament best so far – to lead the Carmona-based parbusters’ searing assault on the well-manicured layout of Palos Verdes.

Cully similarly didn’t run into a single bogey as he fired a 70, a card matched by Carl Corpus. Reyes, who nailed an eagle on No. 8, and Chan shot identical 71s, allowing Southwoods to do away with Chan’s score with plenty to spare.

Jolo Magcalayo provided the bright spot for Canlubang, punching in a bogey-free 67 spiked by an eagle on No. 8 for 41 points, with Luis Castro (35), Jan Philippe De Claro (29), and Jakey Yulo (26) also counting.

Luisita stood a far third with 361 after a third-day 129 while Del Monte (111) occupied the rear with 349. 

Meanwhile, Orchard led the Founders Division with 363 after a 124 yesterday at Apo, ahead of Riviera (355 after a 122) and Cebu (354 after a 119). 

Sherwood Hills continued to hold sway in Aviator division, hiking its total to 320 points after a 101 at Palos Verdes spiked by the twin 31s of Harry Paltongan and Shun Ariizumi. Sherwood enjoyed a 21-point margin against Lumbia, which logged 88 for 299 overall.