Cebu teams start slow

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Cebu Country Club found itself in a hole at the start of the 60th Philippine Airlines Interclub Tournament at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here as the opening team struggled to deliver amid the swirling winds and sleek greens.

The Y101-FM backed Cebu team is 11 strokes behind opening round leader Orchard in the Founders division. The Cebuanos are tied for third place with Negros.

In the Championship class, defending champion Canlubang coasted to a comfortable 11-point lead over Manila Southwoods. Canlubang scored a total of 149 points in the five-to-play, four-to-count format using the Stableford or PAL Points system.

This scoring format awards six points for a double-eagle, five for an ace, four for eagle, three for birdie, two for par, and one for bogey. Championship Division

Mark Fernando scored three-under-par 39 points to lead Canlubang's opening day surge over at the Del Monte Golf club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Jonel Ababa added two-under-par 38 while Rufino Bayron and Paul Echavez each turned in 36 points. The 33 of Dave Hernandez did not count.

Manila Southwoods' woes were compounded when Tonton Asistio was disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard. The team banked on Anthony Fernando's 38, Jong Laput's 37, Miko Alejandro's 32, and the 31 points of ten-year-old Miggy Yee.

Co-host Del Monte looked a little lost despite playing at home as it only managed 137 points from the 36 of Romeo Jaraula, 35 of Ondoy Mondilla, 34 of Belem Arancon and either of the 32s of Ben Miñoza and Jovanni Abanio.

Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu scored 75 points. The team is bracketed under this premiere category after missing the tournament for a couple of years.

Evans Tumaliwan fired 30 points, Kenneth Dyguani made 20, Edwardson Chiu had 15, and last to count was Lito Barino with 10. Jun Zosa struggled with 9 points and did not count.

Founders Division

Orchard scored a total of 120 points behind the spectacular performance of 14-year-old world junior golf champion Wolen Superal, who scored one-under-par 37 points.

Also counting for the team were Paul Salvador (29), King Stehmeir (28), and Tuan Nguyen (26). The 23 of Timmy Owyong did not count.

Wack-Wack would have been the leader, but lost it when one of its players was disqualified for signing the wrong scorecard. Sammy Sy shot 35, Augusto de Jesus 30, John Gobing 30, and Ernesto Lim had 21 for a total of 116.

Skipper Ramonito Garcia scored 33 points and was backed by the 27 of Joseph Stevens, 26 of Jojo Tiongko, and 23 of Marko Sarmiento. Onoy Tirol made 21 and did not count.

Negros was led by the 35 of Francis Gaston. Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club along with Bacolod Country Club in Murcia, Negros Occidental will be the hosts of the 61st edition of the PAL Interclub. This was decided during Tuesday's team captain's meeting.

Cebu was originally favored as next host, but no Cebu club bidded.

Pueblo de Oro is one point behind with 108 while Sta. Elena made 102.

"It's just the same as last year when we were also down by so much during the earlier rounds," said Garcia. He remains very confident of their team's chances of scoring their second three-peat.

The Cebuanos won the title in 2001 to 2003 then missed it in Cagayan and Bukidnon in 2004 then won back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.

He hopes to recover the deficit in the succeeding rounds and will be fielding himself, Sarmiento, Tirol, William Hong, and Mark Dy at Del Monte today.

Sportswriters Division

Valley set the scorching pace in this third ranked category shooting 122 points yesterday at Pueblo de Oro. Iloilo is a far second at 109 followed by Villamor with 105 and John Hay with 100.

Valley had Ferdi Aunzo shooting 37 points, Chino Raymundo 33, Zaldy Villa 28 and Matt Mendoza 24.

Mactan Island Golf Club is at fifth spot with 99 points courtesy of Roy Dadula 27, Gungun Gica with 26, Renato Aquino 24, and Retired Gen. Rodante Joya 22. The 20 of Dustin Morada did not count.

Mactan will field Aquino, Morada, Jonathan Dionson, Hubert Calan, and Capt. Kim Agatep at Del Monte for today's action.

Camp Evangelista is sixth with 97, followed by Iligan and Phil. Navy with 95 and three other teams made 94 - Alabang, Lanang, and Alta Vista.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club was led by assistant skipper Victor Gocela with 30 points. Also counting for the team total were Emir Abutazil 23, Ed Acain 22, and Wendel Yap 19. Alex Kim shot 14 and did not count.

Gene Aznar, Enrico Solon, Kim Kwang Seok, Yap and Acain will carry Alta Vista's banner at Del Monte today.

Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Callaway Golf, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation, Mizuno, People Asia and Royal Caribbean are this year's major sponsors.

The corporate backers are Business Mirror, Fortune Tobacco, GMA 7, Honda Cars Davao, Premier Wine & Spirits, www.inquirer.net and Radio Mindanao Network whose local station DXCC is celebrating its 55th anniversary.

Completing the backers are Century Park Hotel, C-Lium Fibre, Foreign Post, Lufthansa Technik Philippines and What's On Expat Communications.