Sweet victory for Luisita in PAL golf

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Luisita amassed a final round 258 points at the Pueblo de Oro course yesterday to complete its runaway victory and stress its dominance in the Philippine Airlines Inter-Club Seniors’ Championship Division. The Tarlac City bets claimed their fifth consecutive pennant and their 12th since 1986 with a record-setting 508 after a first round 250 output at Del Monte course.

"The guys played very, very consistently," said Luisita skipper Rudy Samson. "They played as a team to nail down those numbers. They deserve to win — again." Iggy Clavecilla led Luisita with a two under par 70, which has the equivalent of 56 points in the PAL modified scoring system. King Sumulong backstopped Clavecilla with 52 and Bong de Guzman, Alex Montelibano and Richie Garcia contributed 50 apiece to keep Luisita’s winning run in the event.

Rookie Francis Gaston and Lucio Yan came up with 48 apiece and Madoka Amano carded 44 and did not count.

Wack Wack collected 238 on Tommy Manotoc’s 56 points, the 48 of Butch Brodett, Pablo Soon’s 47, the 45 of Tetu Santos and two 44s to settle for second place with 471.

Manotoc, who had represented the Philippines in many international tournaments in his youth, celebrated his debut in the senior division when he captured the Championship Division individual crown with 108. He had a closing two-under par on medal play at Pueblo yesterday.

Alabang Country Club scored 239 for 470 to finish third just a point behind Wack Wack while Manila Southwoods fired 244 to place fourth with 466. Villamor Golf Club was fifth with 461.

Host Pueblo de Oro banked on the efforts of Rene Go, Rolly Uy, Blasito Velez, Mike Celdran and Art Empamano for 235 at Del Monte to go with their 240 on their home course to rule the Founders Division with 475.

And Crystal Springs shot 211 at Pueblo de Oro — thanks to Josefino Villanueva’s 50, the 45 of Allan Mercado, the 40 of Constante Foronda and the 38s of Bob Howard and Fred Viray — to retain the Sportswriters Division diadem.

Together with their first-day 213, the Filipino campaigners from South San Francisco wound up with 424. ABS-CBN Global, Airbus Industrie, CNN International, GE Aircraft Engines, Golden Nugget Hotel Las Vegas, Johnnie Walker, Manila Broadcasting Corp., Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International and UMBN the major sponsor. Joey 92.3, 96.3 Wrock and 105.1 Crossover were the corporate backers while Asia Brewery Inc., Boeing, Boysen Pacific Paint, Century Park Hotel, INQ7.net, Jam 88.3, Tanduay Rhum and www.philstar.com were the other supporters.

The Riviera Golf and Country Club collected 228 at Del Monte and 238 at Puebo de Oro to capture second in the Founders Division with 466, followed by Manila Golf and Country Club 232-461 and Negros 234-452.

Eagle Ridge shot 208 at Pueblo de Oro to settle for second in the Sportswriters Division with 421. Third was Philippine Navy after coming up with 218 for 419.