Cebu won't pursue bid to host Interclub 2011

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  – Cebu’s plan to bid as host of 64th Philippine Airlines Interclub will have to be set aside as Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon will be given a chance to host the event next year.

Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club and Del Monte Golf Club were supposed to be the host of this year’s event, but organizers moved it to Bacolod due to some issues that had to be addressed in Mindanao.

The team captains will meet today at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

Retired General Rodante Joya, general manager of the Mactan Island Golf Club, told The Freeman yesterday that he planned to bid as host of the event in 2011 along with Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu.

Joya said that Club Filipino expressed interest to be a co-host in their bid to bring the event back to Cebu, which was last held there in 2001.

Two golf courses are needed to stage the annual event, which has the seniors for players aged 55 years old and above, and the men’s regular event played one after the other in a two-week period.

Joya offered MIGC as host last year, but failed to convince the captains since only one course bid for Cebu.

Ramontito Garcia of Cebu Country Club told The Freeman that they have not been approached about hosting the tournament.

He said that while the two-week event would be too much for the club, being co-host for one of the two events is something that can be done.

Garcia, who is here as skipper of the CCC team, said that he will have to discuss the matter with the club’s board of directors first before he would make any commitment.

Joya said that he will talk with Garcia and hopefully have three Cebu clubs bidding to host the Interclub to make their dream of bringing the tournament back to Cebu a reality.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club has been counted out as host for the tournament due to the nature of the course where carts are required to play due to the distance between tee to green on some holes and the distance between the last green and the next tee.

Cebu teams competing in the men’s regular event, which tees off tomorrow are CCC, MIGC, AVGCC and CFIC.

Cebu Country Club had a last-minute change in the line-up when Eric Deen had himself substituted by Jojo Tiongko late last week due to some pressing commitments. The team will also have two fresh faces this year as junior golf standouts Gio Gandionco and LJ Go are joining the lineup.

The classifications of the teams will also be known today after the team captain’s meeting.

Joya said that it would be useless to bid as Cagayan and Bukidnon will be given the honors, but his interest to bring the tournament back to Cebu is there and he hopes to do it next year.   (FREEMAN NEWS)