Canlubang grabs lead in PAL srs golf
CLARK – After lurking in the shadows of hotshooting Luisita in the early goings, Canlubang struck hard yesterday, wiping out a 12-point overnight deficit to surge past their rivals by two heading into the final reckoning in the Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub Golf Tournament at Mimosa Golf and Country Club here.
Mari Hechanova and national seniors champ Abe Avena fueled the charge and fired 51 and 50, points, respectively, while Dave Hernandez added a solid 49 as the Sugar Barons posted their best card in three days – 150 – and overtook a cold Luisita with a 426 aggregate. Rene Unson, seeing action after a bout with vertigo, didn’t count with his 43.
Luisita, which scored 146-142 in the first two days, coughed out a 136 at the Lake View and Acacia course for 424 overall.
“We were only expecting to reduce Luisita’s lead to a manageable level so we’re surprised to actually go into the final round with the lead,” said Cangolf exec Luigi Yulo.
Benjie Sumulong paced Luisita with 48 as Eduardo Sison (46) and Richie Garcia (42) also contributed to the scorecard for the day. Chito Laureta, the fourth man, also had a 42.
“We had a bad round and they had a great round today,” said Luisita’s non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova.
Founders division pacesetter Mimosa, which had outscored fancied Canlubang and Luisita in the first two days, slowed down with a 133 in the third round but stayed in contention for the overall title with 422.
Romeo Celestino, who didn’t count the first round, led the way with 46 for Mimosa, which shared flights with Canlubang and Luisita after outpacing the Championship division teams in the first two days. Noel Yamzon (44) and Danny Abad (43) backed up Celestino.
The competitors bring out their top guns as they brace for a tight battle for the crown today at the more difficult Mountainview layout. Tommy Manotoc, Rolly Viray, Zaldy Villa and Unson try to complete Cangolf’s come-from-behind title retention drive while Eddie Bagtas, Jingy Tuason, Herminio Maravilla and Sison seek to salvage it for Luisita.
“A two-point (lead) is not safe in the Interclub,” said Yulo.
“We’re still confident we can pull it off. We believe we have the better lineup in the final round,” said Hechanova.
Mimosa fields Wolfgang Simandal, Lee Dong Koo, and Park Chon Woo, the trio responsible for the team’s sizzling 149 on opening day, along with Rico Santos, its top scorer in Round 2, as it bids to steal the thunder from the two fancied Championship division clubs.
The host team, at the same time, leads Cebu CC by eight after three rounds in the Founders class. Cebu submitted 139 yesterday for a three-day tally of 414.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental retook the Aviator division lead from Eagle Ridge. Negros carded 131 to hike its card to 396 – three points clear of Eagle Ridge, which managed a 115.