CEBU COUNTRY CLUB READY TO DEFEND PAL GOLF TITLE
Will their lucky streak in Davao hold?
Defending champion CCC to field new lineup in defense of PAL title
The Cebu Country Club’s (CCC) may be fielding a new look for the PAL interclub, but it won’t change the character and goal of the 10-time PAL Interclub champion, which will be defending the Founders Division title on March 1 to 4 in Davao City.
One of the major changes in the lineup is the absence of Club Champion and former pro Mark Dy, who will skip this year’s tournament. CCC will also welcome back returnees Eric Deen, Andre Borromeo and Harvey Sytiongsa, who are replacing Jayjay Alvarez, Miguel Martinez and Dy, respectively.
“Every year we set a high standard. We always set high goals, pressure is always there and I think it’s normal. Hopefully everybody will still deliver, despite being undermanned,” said veteran Jovi Neri, who will be playing his 14th consecutive year in the PAL Interclub.
Marko Sarmiento, a 10-time champion, said that despite the absence of key players, the team will still not settle for anything less than a win.
Multiple club champion Eric Deen replaces former pro Mark Dy in lineup
“We set high expectations every year. We contend every year, we have a very good record especially in Davao. To be honest , anything less than a win will be disappointing for us. Even if our team is not in full strength without our Club Champion Mark Dy, we still expect to contend and defend the Founders title,” Sarmiento told SunStar Cebu yesterday.
CCC has won in the last four times the PAL Interclub was played in Davao, thrice in the Founders Division and once in the championship division.
The CCC team reigned anew in the Founders Division last year after winning it in 2001-2013, 2005-2007 and 2009. The team ruled the Championship Division in 2012-2013. Neri, Deen and Sarmiento were part of the four victories in Davao City in 2003, 2006, 2009 and the Championship division in 2012.
“Five years ago, we won the championship in Davao City. I was not able to join last year due to an injury. Hopefully we make
CCC has won the last four times Davao City hosted the PAL Interclub
a good play this year,” said Deen, who won nine out of CCC’s 10 titles.
One of the mainstay members, Bayani Garcia, who’s been playing straight since 2009, said that the team is in great shape to be able to defend the crown, despite the change of personnel.
“(The preparation) is not as intense as the last few PAL interclubs, people were getting busy. But for some reason, we still manage to get a few rounds, people are still scoring. The whole team is bothered by few injuries but it is what it is. It’s not PAL without all this thrill leading to the event,” said Garcia.
Last year, CCC beat Villamor for the Founders title but for this year, it won’t be just Villamor CCC will look out for. Neri said that all of the teams are coming up with their best and every year there’s a different club that rises to the challenge. The squad, spearheaded by team captain Montito Garcia, will have three sophomores this year in Marc Gonzalez, Ferdie Chua and Pio Neri.