Del Monte smells victory at home

Cagayan de Oro — Del Monte cooled off in its drive for history but, in the process, got closer to it.

The host team tapered off from its smashing start in its home course at Manolo Fortich where it sizzled with a record 12-under par 156, carding a 141 at the Pueblo de Oro course on a plateau above this city that put some semblance of order in the 57th PAL Interclub golf team championship yesterday.

That sent the Del Monte squad within two days of becoming the very first Mindanao team to win the prestigious crown in 57 years. And there seems to be nobody that could stop the siege — be it the youth-laden No. 2 team or the old multi-titled champ which suddenly felt its age.

Now the team enjoys the luxury of playing anew on its home turf to increase its lead today with the same solid team whose swashbuckling round Wednesday will have a secured place in the record books for a long, long time.

Skipper Ramon "Yoyong" Velez provided the leadership and the strength in the day, firing a team-best 37 points. He was supported by Louie Dacudao, once a losing finalist in the Nationals, with 36 points, Jette Plete with 35 while one of 33s of Ben Miñoza and Tristan Tabanas counted for the team.

Del Monte posted 297 (156-141) for a seven-point edge over Manila Southwoods described by its top honcho as a "third generation" team and, by all reckoning, a not so safe a lead except that the host team could easily load up with big guns at any given time.

"It’s not a big lead and hopefully we could get some more because we’re playing our home course. We never felt that our team would collapse because both teams are pretty solid, " said Velez adding that Martin Lorenzo, Del Monte managing director, had helped nurture the team the past four years.

The leaders are now up against Southwoods, which continued to amaze in the event behind its gutsy band of teeners and youth players with 140 for 290. Mark Lopez and Gene Bondoc fired identical 37 points, ex-national champ Artemio Murakami had 36–his day ruined by poor putting, and skipper Jeric Hechanova, the oldest in the squad at 45, had a 30. The 15-year old Mico Alejandro didn’t count with 29.

"Basically, it’s a third generation team from our program, and they are here for the experience but they’re young and the desire is there to prove something and we were pleasantly surprised," said Southwoods chair Bob Sobrepeña.

In a way it would be a repeat showdown of sort for Southwoods and their host team following their clash in the Fil-Am won by DHL-Mizuno manned by Del Monte aces.

Lost in all the hype and thrill of Del Monte’s charge was defending champion Canlubang’s embattled bid for a fifth straight title as it failed to gain on the host squad at Pueblo despite a three-under 39 of former pro and Putra Cup individual winner Dave Hernandez.

The Sweeties, gunning for their 13th title overall, were a distant third with another 140 for 280, 17 points behind the leader and faced with a daunting task of going for broke against a team virtually in its own house and a youth brigade capable of explosive finishes.

Juvic Pagunsan, whose runner-up finish in the Philippine Open last week was second only to the winning feat of amateur Golem Silverio in 1965, added 38 points while J.R Tanpinco had 32 and Ronnie Torrecampo a 31.

Jun Bernis, a reliable Canlubang pointmaker, best typified the up-and-down run of the reigning titlist when he hurt a shoulder blade on a downswing on the seventh hole and hacked through the round in pain. He had 30.

"We’ll go all-out. We have no choice, it’s make or break for us. We could still get on top of that mountain and hopefully it may not be too late," said Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo.

Crystal Springs leaned on the 31 of Dan Patalot to come in fourth with 97 points and 203 total while Davao was fifth with only five men on tap for 100-184.

San Jose was sixth with 98-176, followed by Lanang 80-151, Fil-Oz-Melbourne with 59-123, and Fil-Am-Florida with 60.

In the Founders Division, Pueblo de Oro held on to a two-point lead over Wack Wack with 128-254. Wack Wack had 130-252 while Forest Hills had 124-246, the same card of Cebu (118-246). Riviera followed with 237, Sherwood Hills 230, Alabang 229, Manila Golf 227 and Palos Verdes 217.

Mactan Coral and Zamboanga were tied for the lead in the Friendship Division with 187 cards followed by Victorias and Alta Vista with 184s. Lumbia came in third with 180, then Baguio 178, Capitol 177, Navy 174, Maharlika 170, San Juanico 165, Pittsburg 163, UP Tee Jots 156, South Cotabato 154, Club Filipino 139, Sky West 132, Fil-Oz-Sydney 124, Seattle 121, Paga San Jose 119, Cotabato 118, Goilfinos 117, Riyadh Dirab 112 and Saudi Aramco 111.

Major sponsors this year are ABS-CBN Global, Airbus, ASUS Notebook PC, CNN International, GE Aircraft Engines, Golden Nugget Hotel Las Vegas, Johnnie Walker, Manila Broadcasting Corp., Radio Mindanao Network, Royal Caribbean International and UMBN.

The corporate backers are 105.1 Crossover, Joey 92.3, and 96.3 Wrock. Asia Brewery, Boeing, Boysen Pacific Paint, Century Park Hotel, INQ.7, Jam 88.3, Tanduay and www.philstar.com are the other sponsors.