Southwoods grabs PAL Interclub lead

CLARK, Pampanga — Manila Southwoods turned to a pair of teenagers to build a one-point cushion over Canlubang Friday going into the final round of the 69th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

Jose Emmanuel Sajulga, a 15-yearold find from Del Monte, sank a fivefoot birdie putt on the final hole for 37 points to lead the Carmona-based squad which posted 136 points at the Acacia and Lakeview layout.

Ira Alido, 16, scored 36 while Ryan Monsalve and veteran Vince Lauron rounded out scoring with 32 and 31, respectively.

Southwoods led by as many as 10 points early on until fading down the stretch.

Lauron, who teed off at the back, was even through 13 holes until dropping five shots in the last four holes. He picked up on the par-3, No. 6 following consecutive bad wedge shots.

As a result, Canlubang managed to trim the gap to only one with 135 points anchored on Rupert Zaragosa’s 38 points.

The Sugar Barons also drew 33s from Carlo Villaroman and Luis Miguel Castro and 31 from Marco Olives.

Southwoods’ Brixton Aw and Canlubang’s Jose Carlos Yulo failed to count with 29 and 27, respectively.

Thirdy Escaño, Southwoods’ nonplaying team captain, tried to hide his disappointment.

“I’m very happy with the position we’re in,” said Escaño. “My team tomorrow is a stronger team, so we’re relatively confident.

“Canlubang will always be a team to contend with,” added Escaño. “Canlubang is a very experienced team. That’s the advantage they have.”

Canlubang skipper Luigi

Yulo flashed a big smile after the round.

“The same as the first, second and third day, parang ganyan lang yan, tabla lahat yan,” said Yulo. “We’re happy to be able to catch up. At one point, we were 10 down already.”

Yulo said they will be playing with the same team they beat by one.

“So it’s interesting tomorrow,” he added.

Both teams did not deviate from their game plans of using the same teams exclusively in one course.

Southwoods appears to have a stronger team on paper with the presence of Japanese Yuto Katusrugawa and Justin Quiban against pro-bound Jobim Carlos of Canlubang.

“Of course, there will always be pressure. Pero enjoy lang tayo,” said Carlos who is set to join the local and Asian Tour after this tournament.

Luisita shot the day’s best score – 139, but remained 17 points off the pace.

Dan Cruz redeemed himself from a second round meltdown by firing a tournament-best 40 points. Luis Miguel Guerrero and Korean Kim Joo Hyung each had 34 points.

Luisita’s fourth scorer was either Sebastian Lorenzo or Jingy Tuason who had 31 apiece.

The Orchard was in fourth spot with 381 followed by Del Monte and Mimosa with 376 and 355, respectively.

The Interclub is sponsored by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.

Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land and Rolls-Royce.