GOING FOR THE JUGULAR
Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf and Country Club will shoot for their division’s titles today as the last day of the PAL Interclub rolls off in two tough courses in Bacolod City
Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf and Country Club will go for their division’s titles today from contrasting points as the men’s regular tournament of the PAL Interclub winds up at two tough courses here in Bacolod City.
Trailing the leaders by nine going into the third round, CCC had another so-so round--but luckily, so did the leaders--and found itself at third place but only six down at 332 after shooting 109 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.
On the other hand, over at windy Binitin, members of Mactan Island Golf and Country Club luckily finished their round before conditions worsened and found themselves comfortably ahead by 23 against Guinhalaran Golf going into the final round today. Mactan shot 103 in Day 3 to up their total to 296.
Lady luck seemed to be smiling at CCC at Marapara as midway into the third round, it looked like the deficit was going to be bigger going into the final round. But when the final two players—Harvey Sytiongsa and Mark Dy—finished their round, they managed to chip off three points from the leaders.
Martin Mendoza, the first player to finish, again accounted for himself well, leading the team for the second straight day after scoring 29 points. Dy and Sytiongsa, who birdied his final hole, saved CCC after scoring 27 each, while Marko Sarmiento closed out his tournament with 26 points after playing back-toback days. Jufil Sato, who played in the first round, didn’t count after finishing with 24 points.
“Kaya pa ni,” a confident Sarmiento said after the final scores were counted. “We didn’t play well but we still managed to get some points from the leaders.” Wack Wack is still ahead at 338 (111-121-106) but saw its lead narrowed. Forrest Hills broke from a tie with CCC to solo second at 333 after posting 110 yesterday.
“It was very dry and windy today and we’re hoping it would be better tomorrow (final round),” said Sarmiento. “Lig-on kaayo ang team nato tomorrow (final round), so kaya pa ni.
In the final round, which will be played at Binitin, Dy will play for the second day for CCC. He will be joined by veterans Bayani Garcia and Eric Deen along with Marc Gonzalez and Gio Gandiongco.
Garcia saved CCC in the first day after scoring 32, while Deen, a 20-year veteran of the tournament, had 27. Gonzalez had 23 in the first day, while Gandionco scored 27 in the second round at Marapara.
“We were 11 down in 2003 and still won. Also, we have 10 club championships between Bayani, Mark and Eric, so we are still confident,” said Sarmiento. “Plus, we have Gio who is US NCAA Division 1 scholar from Santa Clara and Gonzalez, who is a two-time junior club champion.” Meanwhile, in the Sportswriters Division, MIGC will take a cautious approach despite taking a 23-point lead after the third round.
MIGC scored 103 to up their tally to 296, 23 ahead of first day leader Guinhalaran 273 (89-95-89), while Club Filipino de Cebu is another five points further back at third at 268 (80-98-90).
Kaya pa ni. We didn’t play well but we still managed to get some points from the leaders... We were 11 down in 2003 and still won.
MARKO SARMIENTO CCC