CEBU, Philippines — Mactan Island Golf Club (MIGC) is once again carrying the torch of the Cebu teams in the Philippine Airlines Interclub Golf Tournament as it continues to lead the fourth-ranked Sportswriters Division of this annual tournament played at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (Marapara) and the Bacolod Golf and Country Club (Binitin).
The highlight for the Cebuanos on the penultimate day of the tournament was, however, an ace on the par-3 hole No. 18 of the Bacolod Golf and Country Club made by Sir Cross Abarintos of Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.
Abarintos said that he choked his Adams Golf hybrid club on the 180-yard closing hole of the course located in the town of Murcia.
“I seem to have topped my shot a bit, but the ball went straight. I did not expect it to go in, but then somebody shouted that I made a hole-in-one,” Abarintos said.
That was his first-ever ace.
In the Founders Division, Cebu Country Club dropped to third spot going to the final round, but remains in contention for a podium finish.
Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu also looms to finish among the top three of the Sportswriters Division.
Sportswriters division
Mactan is comfortably on top of the 20-team field of this category with a three-day total of 296 points on rounds of 88, 105, and 103.
At second is Guinhalaran with 273 followed by Club Filipino with 268 points.
Alfredo Cabajar led Mactan in the third round played at Binitin shooting 29 points in the PAL Points (Stableford) system.
Also counting for Mactan in the five-to-play, four-to-count format were Army Colonel Gerry Catindoy with 26, Jay-R Aguilon with 25, and Air Force Major General Nick Parilla with 23. The 22 of Retired General Bam Jamorabo did not count.
Guinharalan had rounds of 89, 95, and 89 while Club Filipino shot 80, 98, and 90.
Counting for Club Filipino on Saturday were Mandaue City Councilor Nilo Seno with 26, Evans Tumaliwan 22, Dominic Gotiong 22, and Teddy Almario with 20. The 15 of Peter Militante did not count.
With the fourth ranked team six points behind Club Filipino, the Danao City-based team hopes to make it to the podium Sunday night.
Retired Police General Ed Benigay said that the Mactan players are very happy where they are. He will play on the final round today in Marapara along with Pio Barandog, Retired Air Force Colonel Elvis Jequinto, Victor Radaza, and Catindoy.
The closing team for Club Filipino will be manned by councilors Seno and Raymond Garcia, Tumaliwan, Almario, and Paolo Alberto.
Founders division
In the second-ranked division, Wack Wack holds a six-point lead with an aggregate of 338 points (111-121-106) followed by Forest Hills with 333 (117-106-110) and Cebu Country Club with 332 (108-115-109).
This will make for a very interesting final round battle in Binitin.
Counting for CCC on the third day were Martin Mendoza with 29, Mark Anthony Dy and Harvey Sytiongsa with 27 apiece and Marko Sarmiento with 26. The 24 of Jufil Sato did not count.
Playing for CCC in the final round will be Bayani Garcia, skipper Eric Deen, Gio Gandionco, Marc Gonzalez, and Dy.
Aviator division
Alta Vista, which plays in this third-ranked group, has a very long shot for a podium finish as it sits fifth in the field of 15 teams.
Host NOGCC has virtually wrapped the crown with a total of 332 points in three rounds (105-115-112) followed by Sta. Elena with 304 and Sherwood Hills with 293.
Rancho Palos Verdes is fourth with 291 while Alta Vista is behind with 277 on rounds of 84, 104, and 89.
Abarintos led the team on day 3 with 27 points while Kong Taeyun and Jun Zambo each made 22 and last to count was Marvin Mendoza with 18. Teenager Weiyu Gao made 15 points, which did not count.
The same five players will play on the final round in Marapara.
The Interclub’s Platinum sponsors this year are Primax Broadcasting, RMN and Fox, while major sponsors are BusinessWorld Publishing, Rolls Royce, TV5, Philippine Standard.
Other sponsors include Boeing, Under Armour, Eton Properties and Asia Brewery. www.fullpointcebu.com