BACOLOD CITY – Canlubang annexed two record-matching feats in the PAL Interclub golf team championships yesterday, smothering Manila Southwoods with a record-equaling 34-point margin on a closing 129 to complete its third straight sweep of the seniors and men’s divisions at the Marapara course here.
The Barons slowed down on the soggy par-70 layout with their worst output in four days after a 130, 137 and 138, but it was enough to complete their domination of the Southwoods golfers and the entire field in the centerpiece division of the annual event.
They wound up with a 534 aggregate, beating Southwoods, which closed out with a 500 after a 126, by 34 points to avenge their setback via the same margin to the Carmona-based squad in 1992, also here at Marapara.
“Winning is always a thrill,” said Cangolf team skipper Luigi Yulo.
But they took away the excitement that has been the trademark of the championship for years as the Barons settled the issue right in the second round when they posted a record-setting 24-point lead, reducing the title race to a mere battle for runner-up honors.
“We do not want to stop winning,” Yulo said.
With an intact lineup set to tee off in Davao for the 62nd staging next year, Canlubang could be on its way to establishing a new mark of fourth straight championship although Southwoods, reeling from the debacle, vowed to overhaul its roster and tap at least four new faces for next year’s campaign.
RP team stalwart Jhonnel Ababa and Paul Echavez each had 33 points while Mark Fernando, another national team member, turned in a 32 and either the 31 of Peter Villaber or Jessie Balasabas counted for the team.
Mario Labajo took the individual honors with 71 points, including a stirring 39-point output, three-under par in medal play, that sparked Canlubang’s second round charge.
Asian Gamer Gene Bondoc emerged Southwoods’ best scorer in the day with 35 points while Jin Jun Jong tossed in 31 and Justin Limjap and Chucky Hong chipped in 30 points apiece.
Del Monte, winner of the 2004 edition and which tied Southwoods at second halfway through the 72-hole championship, settled for third with a 490 after a 123.
Scoring for the team were Jett Plete (37), Park Jun Sub (33), Yoyong Velez (29) and Julius Bautista (24).
The Barons, including seniors mainstays Tommy Manotoc and Rolly Viray and team official Darly Patalot, whooped it up at the 18th green after Balasabas holed out with a tap-in par for 31 points, capping the team’s week-long romp in the event it dominated the last three years.
Make it a two-week stroll as Cangolf’s seniors squad came away with a 20-point victory, also over Southwoods, for the front-end of its double sweep bid.
Balasabas could’ve given Cangolf a record-winning margin of 35 points but he flubbed a birdie-bid from just outside the green.
Still, it was enough to even things up with Southwoods, which beat Canlubang by 34 points, 529-495, over the same course 16 years ago for the second of what turned out to be the first three-straight sweep of the men’s and seniors titles (1991-93).
“Certainly, this does not help the Interclub,” said Southwoods skipper Thirdy Escano, referring to Canlubang’s domination through its program of tapping, training and developing caddies into top-class players.
He rued the fact that Southwoods does not subscribe to the idea of tapping the caddies ranks to bolster its roster, relying mostly on students to banner its campaign in Interclub wars.
“Definitely we’ll bring in four new talents next year,” said Escano, hinting at enlisting reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion and HK Jockey Club titlist Dante Becierra and RP pool member Ferdie Aunzo plus two others from the ICTSI golf stable of Bong Lopez, a Southwoods head pro.
That would indeed be a great Davao showdown.
Meanwhile, Negros Golf Club topped the Founders Division, assembling a 119 for a four-day haul of 456 for a 15-point victory over Orchard Golf, which had a 441 after a 123. Cebu Country Club came in third with a 106 and a 440.
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 the major backers of the PAL Interclub.
Supporting the event are Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia, RMN, Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik, Patio Pacific Boracay, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Pan Pacific Hotel.