18th hole ‘miracle’ does it

Bacolod — Two miracle shots on the final hole gave Southwoods a victory it would treasure most. Tonton Asistio knocked down an eagle from 105 yards as first man out and Michael Bibat clinched the win as fifth man in late afternoon with a tremendous three-wood fairway shot from 280 yards, nailing an eight-foot birdie as Southwoods beat rival Canlubang by two points.

Southwoods pooled a 129 for 514 to claim its second crown in one of the most dramatic finishes in 58 years of the PAL Interclub at the Marapara course yesterday. The 15-year old Asistio salvaged a par 70 for 36 points, the same output of main man Artemio Murakami while Bibat carded a 29 and Miko Alejandro, who hung tough in the difficult back nine, added a 28 for the Carmona squad. Laurence Negrido struggled to a 21 and didn’t count.

"This is quality win," said team captain Thirdy Escano, alluding to the first crown Southwoods won in 1999 in Davao with powerhouse rivals Canlubang and Luisita out of the field.

The 13-time champ Sugar Barons made a go at it in the initial skirmishes on the front nine and went level with Southwoods at the turn but reeled from the breaks their rivals took on the 18th hole.

The Barons completed 131-152, coming back four shots down at the start of the day on the 33s of Abe Rosal, Ronnie Torrecampo, JR Tanpinco and the 32 of Dave Hernandez. Jay Bayron didn’t count with a 27. "They won and we lost, that’s golf," said Canlubang captain Luigi Yulo as he congratulated Southwoods chair Bob Sobrepeña.

Rosal, for years one of Canlubang’s mainstays, labeled the win as "somehow tainted," referring to the two-point penalty on Juvic Pagunsan that marred the third day at Binitin and robbed the former champs two precious points.

Defending champion Del Monte lost the momentum of its third round charge and succumbed to final day pressures and could only assemble a 113 for 498 with veteran Louie Dacudao top-scoring with 33 points and skipper Yoyong Velez pitching in a 30. Paul Miñoza could do no better than a 26 and Tristan Tabanas had a 24 and Ben Miñoza out of it with a 21.

"What can we do? We had a bad day. We just didn’t play well. Sayang we were in contention pa naman," said Velez.

Finishing fourth was Wack Wack at 80-407. Kit Lopez and former amateur champion Tetu Santos had 22 each while Mike Ozaeta carded 20 and Howard Ching 16 for the team.

As the pressures built up going on the final hole and with Southwoods holding a precarious one-shot lead over Canlubang, the 20-year old Bibat, playing with Tanpinco on the final flight, had a poor second shot that hit a tree and barely went over the water that guarded the 18th fairway.

The reigning Singapore Amateur titlist then banged away that three-wood shot from 280 yards, the ball soaring down wind and stopping eight feet from the cup.

The tall youth ace then canned in the birdie that sent the entire Southwoods team in a frenzy off the green.Tanpinco missed a curling 20 footer for a birdie.

Asistio and Murakami gave Soutwoods the initiative earlier in the round as they fought it out with Hernandez, Torrecampo and Rosal.

With the bitter contest hanging in the balance, Asistio snatched that eagle on the 18th fairway on a seven-iron pitch-and-roll near a car path that careened into the hole for one of the breaks Southwoods rode to victory.

"This one is sweeter. We won the first without our top rivals but we’re still the champ in the books. Our youth program is really producing results," said Southwoods spokesman Jeric Hechanova, who predicted the final day would go down to the wire.

Meanwhile, Iligan shot a final round 100 for a 423 card to win the Sportswriters division by 25 points over Iloilo ( 103-398). Sta. Elena ended up third after a 82 for 385.

Victorias submitted a last round 77 on the efforts of Jose Maria Asperan, Darryl Patrimonio, Roy Quima, Remy Aguirre and Armando Tomo to top the Friendship class with 336.

Stanford shot 83 to earn second with 330 while Bacolod came up with 58 to settle for third spot with 322.

Pagcor, ABS-CBN International, Airbus, GE Aircraft Engines, Boeing, Mastercard International, Globe Platinum, Joey 92.3, Royal Caribbean International, Golden Nuggets Hotel and People Asia are the major sponsors of the annual tournament.

Fortune Tobacco, Radio Mindanao Network, Premier Wines and Spirits, Star Cruises and 96.3 WRock are the corporate backers with RJ Broadcasting Network, Century Park Hotel, Asia Brewery Inc., INQ7.net, Tanduay Rhum and Air Philippines the minor sponsors.