Southwoods triumphs, 2 Cebu teams finish high

CEBU, Philippines – Manila Southwoods ended a long title drought by bagging the title of the 68th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub at the close of the four-day event at the Cebu Country Club Saturday.

Two Cebu teams made podium finishes as co-host Cebu Country Club finished third in the premiere Championship Division while Alta Vista Golf and Country Club took second in the second-ranked Founders Division.

The teams in the Championship and Founders Divisions closed their assignments at the CCC course while those in the Sportswriters and Friendship Divisions played at the Club Filipino course in Danao City.

Tonlits Asistio starred for Manila Southwoods as he scored two-under-par 38 points in the par-72 layout.  His team scored a total of 128 points on the final day for an aggregate of 493 after rounds of 120, 119, and 126.

Justin Quiban added 36 points and the others who counted in the final round were Thirdy Escaño and Ryu Yasuma with 27 apiece.  The 26 of Theody Pascual did not count.  The other members of the team were Manfred Guangko, Vince Lauron, Jun Plana, Jets Sajulga, and Joseph Tambunting.

Last year’s winner Orchard finished second with 491 (129, 111, 124, 127). Raymund Sangil led the team in the final round with 34 points while the others who counted were Kristoffer Arevalo 33, Philippe de Claro 33, and Aian Arcilla 27.  The 26 of Ace Stehmeier did not count.  The other team members were Eric Borromeo, Rodel Mangulabnan, Peter Paul Salvador,  Niko Santiano, and King Stehmeier.

Cebu Country Club had an aggregate of 484 points on rounds of 111, 126, 121, and 126.  Team captain and club president Ramontito Garcia led the team’s final day push with one-over-par 35 points.  Also counting for the team total were Marko Sarmiento 31, Eric Deen 31, and 16-year-old Gen Nagai 29.  Kiyofumi Takahashi made 28, which did not count.  The other members of the team were Carl Almario, Mark Dy, Bayani Garcia, Jovi Neri, and Harvey Sytiongsa.

The tournament used the Stableford or PAL Points System.

Founders division

Alabang Country Club ran away with the title of this group with a total of 465 points on rounds of 118, 121, 116, and 110.

John Baron Garcia, Santiago Lorenzo and Rocco Sumabat each turned in 28 points for Alabang on the final round and last to count was either of the 26s submitted by Miguel Shah and Christopher Popp.  The other members of the team were Liam Patrick Cully, Philppe Palanca, Arnel Paras, Julio Daniel Roa, and Jimmy Yusay.

Alta Vista rode on the heroics of its anchor Aris Mata, who shot three-over-par 33 points on the final round.  The team had an aggregate of 449 on rounds of 114, 105, 114 and 116.  Also counting for the team total on the final round were Gabriel Yap Jr. with 31, 15-year-old Weiwei Gao 30, and Anton Pastoriza 22.  The 21 of Marvin Mendoza did not count.

The other members of the team were skipper Enrico Solon, Victor Gocela, 13-year-old Weiyu Gao, Andrew Ahn, and Jun Zambo.

Valley Golf took third place with a total of 441 points on rounds of 116, 109, 102, and 114.  The team was composed of RB Baltazar, Robert John Barreto, Luis Laureta Eddie Boy Lopez, Adrian Mauricio Honor Mendoza, Marco Antonio Olives, Joey Ramoso, Chino Raymundo and Zaldy Villa.  (PR from fullpointcebu.com) (FREEMAN)