61st PAL Interclub tees off today
The tournament was officially opened by the hitting of ceremonial drives at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, which co-hosts the event with the Bacolod Golf Club.
Atty. Domingo Duerme, chairman of the PAL Interclub, led the ceremonial tee off. He was joined by Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, Murcia Mayor Sonny Coscoluella, NOGCC president Panio Torre, and BGC director Andy Montelibano.
A total of 20 teams are seeing action in the premiere Championship Division, but the battle for the overall title is once again seen to be a toss-up among favorite
There are 15 teams in the Founders Division where Cebu Country Club is gunning for a third straight title.
The Cebuanos are the favorites for this category but could face tough opposition from Wack-Wack, Orchard, and host NOGCC.
Skipper Ramontito Garcia was still in the process of analyzing the games of his players and said that he would decide who to field for the first round late last night.
The tournament is not just a game of golf, but strategy also plays a key part in the victories or defeats.
The two courses that are being used have totally different characteristics.
Mactan Island Golf Club is also in the Founders Division. Retired Gen. Rodante Joya, the non-playing captain, told The Freeman yesterday that he would be fielding Atty. Olin Seno, Dustin Morada, Hubert Calan, Jufil Sato, and Roy Dadula today.
Teams in this division will play at the NOGCC also known as Marapara.
In the third-ranked Sportswriters Division, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club is listed as the thirdseed based on the average scores of the players from previous tournaments.
The favorites in this category are Villamor and Alabang. Pueblo de Oro is also expected to pull some surprises.
Alta Vista skipper Victor Gocela told The Freeman that he has picked six players to play only on one course as a team strategy. He will play at Marapara today along with Enrico Solon and 17-year-old rookie Edsel Tan as the three specialists for the course. They will be joined by Wendell Yap and Toby Florendo.
Gocela explained that he picked three players to specialize on one course since the course characteristics suit the way they play.
Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu is also in this division. The team that would be fielded on the first two days according to team captain Hospicio ‘Razy’ Razon are himself, Rolando Alberto, Edwardson Chiu, Kim Jae Hyun, and the baby-faced Kenneth Dyguani.
There are 16 more teams competing under the Friendship Division.
Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines and Solar Sports are the platinum sponsors of this annual event.
This year’s major backers are Action Asia, Business Mirror, Crossover, PACSPORTS and Royal Caribbean.
Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia and RMN are the corporate sponsors with Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik and Patio Pacific Boracay are other backers.
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