Four-peat no sweat for Cangolf Sweeties

Davao City — Defending champion Canlubang completed its record four-peat, enshrining itself the greatest team in the annals of the PAL Interclub without much pomp and fireworks in the final day.

It completed its date with history with all the ingredients of a great feat — an unprecedented fourth title in row, a mighty romp, a team teeming with talent and a tragic twist with the death of a team pioneer.

That made it a memorable 12th crown for the Sweeties despite an anti-climatic and so-so finish. It had its conservative 118 final day output to win by 20 points over Manila Southwoods.

"Admittedly, we had a strong line-up. But I didn’t expect winning this way. We played exceptionally well and Southwoods played exceptionally bad in the second day. We just did what we had to do," said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo.

The Carmona team finally showed its true form over at the demanding Apo course with a strong 138-point finish embellished by the second double-eagle in the week made by Erwin Vinluan who had 38 points.

With its reign secured as early as the second round, Canlubang coasted pressure-free to an easy victory with only a team best of 31 put up by Dave Hernandez.

Former caddies champ Jay Bayron added 30 and Tommy Manotoc carded a gutsy 29, going four over in the first four holes and staggering on the brink of collapse in searing heat coming home. Boyet Zaragosa had 28 and Mari Hechanova didn’t count with a 23.

"I guess it all boiled down to having a good second day. That made the difference," said Manotoc who struggled through the grief of losing buddy Panchito Garcia to fatal heart attack a day earlier. Garcia was Canlubang mainstay since its first crack at the Interclub in 1975.

The team, in fact, will wear black patches on their shirt during the award rites late in the day.

The 25-year old Vinluan typified a last day stand by Southwoods with his 38 points — two under par 70 in medal — capped by the tournament’s second double eagle on the 18th.

He achieved the feat by hitting into the elbow of the dog-leg 493-yard par 5 18th fairway with a three-wood teeshot. Another bristling three-wood shot into the roaring winds from 215 yards sent his ball hurtling onto the compact green.

When the ball rolled straight into the cup, the 55-year old Interclub found another footnote to this historic edition with its second albatross in the week.

The first double-eagle was made by Canlubang’s Abe Rosal on the 12th hole of the Ranchos Palos Verdes in the first round.

Southwoods eventually ended up with its fourth straight runner-up finish at 522 with Montito Garcia and Jun Jun Plana contributing 31 points each and Juami Rocha adding 28. Artemio Murakami had 25 and failed to make the grade.

Southwoods team manager Thirdy Escano accepted the defeat graciously.

"I congratulate Canlubang for what they did. They played just great. But we will try our best when we meet again," he said.

Former Interclub heavyweight Luisita could only take third with 474 after a 106, its poor finish underscoring its lack of aggressive program to recruit youngblood to be able to recapture the luster of its glory years.

Its best cards were a couple of 28s by Iggy Clavecilla and Jojo Fernando while senior player Alex Montelibano chipped in 26 points and Anthony Fernando 24. Boy Blue Ocampo’s 22 didn’t count.

Del Monte took fourth overall with 110-470 but looked poised to emerge a powerhouse team when the Interclub moves to its homebase in Cagayan de Oro next year. It drew 29s from Paul Miñoza and Joel Opaco and 26s from Tristan Tabanas and J. Jaraulla.

Cebu Country Club closed out with 100 to capture its third straight Founders Division crown with 451.

Riviera was second while Forest Hills settled for third.

Maharlika scored a final round 84 at Palos Verdes to capture the Friendship Division crown with 328. South Cotabato carded 68-292 to settle for second. Third was UP Tee Jots with 82 and 283.

The awards ceremony followed at the venue. PAL president Avelino Zapanta led the special guests in presenting the prizes to the different team and individual winners.

This year’s event has for major sponsors 105.1 Crossover, ABS-CBN Global, Air Philippines, CNN International, Fortune Tobacco, GE Aircraft Engines, Joey 92.3, MTV Philippines, PLDT, Premier Wines and Spirits, Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International, The Marco Polo Hotel and UMBN-Mindanao Times.

The corporate sponsors are 96.3 WRock, Apo View, and Boeing International while the minor supporters are Accel Sports Gear, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Tanduay Rhum, TaylorMade, Nestle and Discovery Channel.