PAL Interclub men’s tourney under way

BACOLOD CITY – Manila Southwoods returns to the scene of its stirring but controversial victory three years ago and hopes to feed on the memory to foil rival Canlubang’s record-tying bid when the 61st PAL Interclub regular men’s championship begins today in two courses here.

The Carmona team won all its two Interclub titles over the same layouts, the most dramatic was in 2005 when it pulled off a two-point decision on a clutch of a finish at the Marapara course.

“The course has been kind to us and we hope to repeat the feat although Canlubang is really strong and has the advantage,” said Southwoods skipper Thirdy Escaño.

Southwoods engaged Canlubang in a thrilling final day showdown and snatched the victory on a last-hole birdie by former national player Michael Bibat for a winning 514 total.

That finish duplicated its 1999 triumph but the first didn’t have the luster of the 2005 romp with the absence of its archrivals due to a change in schedule in the staging of the Interclub.

It was also tinged with controversy as Juvic Pagunsan, then Canlubang’s top gun, was assessed a two-point penalty with his caddy standing behind his line of putt and Southwoods getting away with a lost-ball infraction.

For this the Barons ache for revenge.

In fact, they have since dominated the event and are now on line for a three-straight title sweep following their decisive win in the seniors’ side last week.

The Barons have won three of their 14 titles on the same hazard-laden Negros Occidental Country Club layout and the Bacolod GCC in Murcia, Binitin where play will commence today.

Canlubang, boasting of a blend of seasoned amateurs and talented recruits, and Southwoods, boosted by a youth brigade, try to match up early in their bid to seize the initiative for the four-day clash.

Missing three mainstays who have turned pro, Canlubang still has a formidable lineup although skipper Luigi Yulo won’t reveal the names of the first five players seeing action in the first round.

“We’ve a pretty good idea whom to start but we would like to divulge them when we set foot on the course. We’ll keep our cards close at the moment,” said Yulo.

Although Southwoods has only six men ready for duty with the rest, mostly students deep on school work and exams checking in mid-week, Escano has formed a tentative lineup which he felt could hold its own against Canlubang’s first team.

Starting out for Southwoods are Doha Asian Gamer Gene Bondoc, Ton Ton Asistio, third placer in the KL Amateur Open, veteran Jun Jun Plana, 11-year old Miggy Yee and Benjie Sarmiento, who is to turn pro soon.

Reigning amateur titlist Anthony Fernando is the spearhead of the team’s bid. The others are Justine Limjap, a Marapara youth standout and Miko Yee, who were members of the La Salle team that ruled the recent national intercollegiate meet, Chuckie Hong and Korean Il Jun Chun.

Bannering the Barons mission to match Luisita’s three-peat double are SEA Games and Putra Cup players Jhonnel Ababa and Mark Fernando, Jess Balasabas, Mario and Joseph Labajo – who are products of the national caddies development program at Calatagan.

The others are former Singapore Amateur Open third placer and reigning DHL Open champion Rufino Bayron, Paul Echavez, Zanny Boy Gialon, Peter Villaber and Bacolod-based Joey Huerva.

Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines and Solar Sports are platinum sponsors while Action Asia, Business Mirror, 105.1 Crossover, Pacsports and Royal Caribbean International are major backers of the PAL Interclub.

Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia, RMN, Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik, Patio Pacific Boracay, Callaway Golf, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Pan Pacific Hotel are also throwing their support.

NOTES: The 61st PAL Interclub men’s event was ushered in with ceremonial drives at Marapara. Doing the honors were NOGCC president Epifanio Torre, NOGCC treasurer Andy Montelibano, Murcia Mayor Esteban Coscoluella, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella and tournament director Domingo Duerme…The next Interclub will be held in Davao…Canlubang topped the classification of teams with 70.16 average per player, or 35 points per round, in the last five years…Del Monte came in second with 64.4, Southwoods third with 61, Forest Hills with 54.5 and Manila Golf Club (51.16).