Davao City, Philippines – Cebu Country Club found itself tied for the second spot in the premiere Championship Division after the first round of the 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub here.
Playing at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, the Cebuanos trail pacesetting Alabang by one point and are tied with defending champion Del Monte with 123 points apiece.
The tournament format requires teams to field five players per round with only the four best scores to count for the team total. The Stableford or PAL Points System is used in this event.
This scoring format awards six points for a double-eagle, five for a hole-in-one, four for eagle, three for birdie, two for par, and one for bogey.
Alabang was led by Santiago Lorenzo with 33 points and others who counted were Miguel Shah 32, Andres Saldaña 31, and Basti Lorenzo 28 for a total of 124 points.
Cebu Country Club was led by 15-year-old Gen Nagai who fired two-over-par 34 points. Also counting for the team total were Bayani Garcia with 32, Carl Almario with 29 and either of the 28s submitted by Marko Sarmiento and Jovi Neri.
CCC president Ramontito Garcia told The Freeman that they are in a very good position. He said that he believes this battle for the title would be between them and Del Monte.
He added that they are going to field veteran Eric Deen, Mark Dy and teenagers Lloyd Jefferson Go and Gio Gandionco at the Apo Golf and Country Club for today’s second round.
“We will decide on the fifth player later tonight (last night), but it might be Gen (Nagai),” Garcia said.
Bayani Garcia told The Freeman that the pin placements at Palos Verdes were tough and the course gave the players a really hard time.
“It is maybe some said that Palos Verdes is an easy course, but it was a tough one today (yesterday), he said while practicing at the putting green of Apo.
Del Monte, winner of the title in their home turf last year, also made 123 points behind Leonard Lofranco and Banny Abaño, and Julius Bautista, who all scored 31 points. Skipper Yoyong Velez was last to count with 30.
Founders Division
In this second-ranked group, Wack-Wack and Orchard share the lead with 117 points apiece. They also played at Rancho Palos Verdes.
Wack-Wack was originally bracketed under the Championship class, but was relegated to this group after filing an appeal with the committee.
At third is Riviera with 108 points followed by Apo with 107, while Negros and Forest Hills both made 106.
Negros was also relegated to this group after filing an appeal with the committee.
Alta Vista is tied for seventh spot with Philippine Navy and Davao with 104 points each.
Gabriel Yap, Jr. led Alta Vista with 30 points while David Park added 29, Marvin Mendoza made 25 and team captain Victor Gocela was last to count with 22. Rookie Sircross Abarintos made 20 points.
The team was penalized two points after Park played for double-bogey on one hole. The tournament rules stipulate that a player, who misses his bogey attempt, must pick up to speed up play. Any infraction would result to a two-point deduction on the team total even if the player, who committed such violation, did not count for the team total.
Valley is two points further back.
Gocela told The Freeman that they remain hopeful despite the slow start and hope to make up for lost ground today at the Apo Golf Club.
Set to play for the team would be Enrico Solon, Emir Abutazil, Dennis Canoy, 12-year-old rookie Wei-Wei Gao, and Yap.
Sportswriters Division
In this category, which has the most number of teams, Mt. Malindang of Ozamis has set the pace with 111 points.
At second spot is Eagle Ridge with 109 and Iligan in one point further back.
Mactan Island Golf Club, which is in this group, is tied for ninth with 87 points along with Sarangani.
Mactan was led by Hong Kil Seo with 25 points and also counting for the team total were Gungun Gica with 23, Pio Barandog with 23, and Col. Bam Jamorabo with 16. Maj. Kim Agatep made 15 points, which did not count for the team total.
Club Filipino is also in the group and is at 17th spot with 70 points.
Raymond Garcia and Razy Razon led the team yesterday with 22 points apiece while the others who counted were Peter Militante and Kenneth Dyguani with 13. Jiji Gullas was the fifth player of the team.
There are a total of 26 teams in this third-ranked group.
The platinum sponsors of the 65th PAL Interclub are Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five, GE while the major backers are Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.
Also lending support are the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphics, Boeing International Corp., Bombo Radyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu. (FREEMAN)