Cebu Country Club claims overall crown

Davao City, Philippines  – Cebu Country Club wrapped up the title of the 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament by fending off Del Monte in the final round played at the Apo Golf and Country Club yesterday banking on its young guns to take the lead.

“It was a sweet win,” said CCC president Ramontito Garcia, who gave much credit to the young players of the club for their first-ever overall title of the annual tournament. 

The club also won the second-ranked Founders Division title of this tournament thrice here, said Jovi Neri.

Gio Gandionco, Lloyd Jefferson Go, and Mark Dy each turned in 34 points for CCC yesterday while last to count was veteran Eric Deen, who carded ten-over-par 26 points.

Gandionco is 16 years old while Go is 17 years old.

Garcia, who played the last two days, managed only 24 points, which did not count. The tournament 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 to score.

The Cebuanos fired a four-day total of 507 points on rounds of 123, 134, 122, and 128.

Del Monte, last year’s champion, finished with an aggregate of 499 points on rounds of 123, 124, 125, and 127.

Charlie Go, the non-playing team captain of CCC, said that after six holes, the two contenders were tied. After nine holes, Cebu Country Club regained some of the lost ground and was again up by three points.

Things got better on the back nine as Del Monte’s players failed to sustain their surge.

Things got a little interesting on the 13th hole when a rulesman was called to determine if Clyde Mondilla of Del Monte was allowed relief as his ball landed near the cart path and there was a huge tree nearby that would affect his swing.

After a ruling, Mondilla hit a near perfect pitch, but two-putted for a bogey while Go sank a birdie putt that swung the scores to the Cebuano’s favor.

Mondilla led Del Monte with 34 points while Banny Abaño added 33 and the duo of Lawrence Cubillo and Noel Langamin each fired 31. The 25 of 14-year-old JJ Gamolo did not count.

Del Monte was also slapped a two-point team penalty after Abaño putted for double-bogey on the 16th. The rules state that a player, who is playing for double-bogey must pick up to speed up the play.

Alabang had another huge round yesterday, but did not do enough to overhaul a disastrous second round to finish third with a total of 493. The team had rounds of 124, 104, 130, and 135.

Garcia said that instructions were given to their players prior to the round.

When asked about their chances of defending the title at home next year, he confidently said, “It would be hard to beat us next year.”

Cebu Country Club will be hosting the men’s tournament along with Mactan Island Golf Club in 2013. The seniors’ event will be hosted by Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu.

The other members of the team were Carl Almario, Bayani Garcia, Gen Nagai, Jovi Neri, and Marko Sarmiento.

Founders division

Wack-Wack sealed the title of this category at Apo Golf yesterday firing a final round of 123 points for a total of 476. Matthew Manotoc and John Goding led the team yesterday with 32 points apiece. EJ Marcelo added 31 points while last to count was Gabriel Manotoc with 28.

Second place went to Orchard with 461 points on rounds of 117, 111, 121, and 112. Third place went to Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, which squeaked past co-host Apo by one point.

Negros finished with a total of 445 on rounds of 106, 114, 120, and 105.

Alta Vista Golf and Country managed to climb up the standings and finished with a total of 392 points on rounds of 104, 92, 105, and 91.

Edsel Tan once again led the team yesterday with 27 points and also counting for the team total were Enrico Solon and Dennis Canoy with 22 apiece and rookie Sir Cross Abarintos with 20. Emir Abutazil, who was suffering from a bad cold, could not finish the final round.

Sportswriters division

Camp John Hay saved its best for last and ran away with the title of this third-rank category with an aggregate of 411 points on rounds of 96, 107, 97, and 111.

Second place went to Eagle Ridge with 388 points firing rounds of 109, 81, 97, and 101 while third place went to Iligan with 383 points (108-94-78-103).

Mactan Island Golf Club finished at eighth place with an aggregate of 338 points on rounds of 87, 93, 73, and 85. 

Jufil Sato fired 25 points at the Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday to lead the team. Also counting for the team total were Marlou Cugtas with 23, B. Gen. Dong Dimatatac with 19, and Nilo Seno with 18. Freddie Salimbangon again struggled and scored only 7 points, which did not count.

Club Filipino landed at the 20th spot with an aggregate of 296 on rounds of 70, 72, 80, and 74. Evans Tumaliwan led the team yesterday with 22 points and also counting for the team total were Boboy Durano with 19, Victor Yuvallos 17, and Tedd Almario with 16. Lito Barino fired 8 points, which did not count.

The platinum sponsors of the 65th PAL Interclub were Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five, and GE. The major backers were Asia Brewery, Business Mirror and Airbus.

Also lending support were the Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphics, Boeing International Corp., Bombo Radyo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel, and Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu. (FREEMAN)