Cangolf storms past Luisita in PAL Interclub

DAVAO, Philippines — Three-time defending champion Canlubang picked up from where it left off in the second round, outclassing Luisita for the second straight day to seize a one-point lead going into the final round of the 23rd Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors event here yesterday.

Jose Mari Hechanova, Tony Olives and Dave Hernandez fired 51 points each at the Rancho Palos Verdes as the Sugar Barons sustained the momentum of their second-round charge and set the stage for a grand finale back at the Apo layout today.

Canlubang stormed ahead but both the Sugar Barons and the Luisitans believe it’s anybody’s game in the closing round with Canlubang to field Tony Manotoc, Bing Bunyi, Luigi Yulo and Rollie Viray against Iggy Clavecilla, King Sumulong, Bong Sison and Pepot Inigo.

PAL Interclub veterans are saying this is the stiffest competition ever seen in the seniors event.

“On paper, they’re the stronger team. If they play their game, they should win. It’s up to them,” said Manotoc, who single-handedly carried Canlubang into contention Friday with a superb 55.

“We’d never been in this position for so long. We don’t want to waste the opportunity. We’ll do everything to win tomorrow (Sunday),” said Clavecilla, spearheading Luisita’s opening-round charge with 56 Thursday.

They’re all saying the big question is how an injured Viray would perform today.

In the penultimate round, Hechanova, Olives and Hernandez ran the show in Rancho Palos Verdes while Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club’s Rene Silos stole the thunder in Apo by scoring a hole in one.

Silos, 56, aced the par-3 147-yard fourth hole with a Callaway Fusion eight iron and a Noodle No. 1 ball while playing in the company of Villamor’s Roberto Sabularse, Manila Southwoods’ Mar Naval and Aguinaldo’s Ed Gador. He won a motorcycle from Honda Megamotors Corp. and a PAL business class ticket to the US for his feat.

Gaston paced Luisita for the second straight day with 51, notwithstanding a “pick-up” on the par-4 No. 4 where he hit his drive into the water.

Richie Garcia and Bong De Guzman added 50 and 46 points, respectively, with Freddie Mendoza not counting for the team with 44.

Garcia finished three up on Philip Brodett, Gaston evened up with Hernandez but De Guzman and Mendoza yielded 12 points to Hechanova and Olives in their pairings.

Hechanova, playing his first PAL seniors event, knocked in four birdies against seven bogeys as he made up for a poor round in Apo Friday.

Alabang scored 132 for a three-day total of 396 for third, 39 points off the leader.

Valley Golf and Country Club carded 122 to go with its earlier rounds of 135 and 125 to retain the Founders Division lead with 384. Orchard made 120 to keep second place with 377.

Camp John Hay came up with 128 to vault to third place with 374, followed by Cebu Country Club 117-371, Wack Wack 120-364, Manila Southwoods 112-362, Del Monte 108-360, Negros 113-358 and Aguinaldo 119-341.

 Mactan Island logged 136 to keep the Sportswriters Division lead with 393. Apo remained in second spot with 131 and 375, followed by Riviera 121-363, Davao 118-349, PGA British Columbia 115-341 and Philippine Navy 117-340.

Players totaling 1,500 from 151 teams around the world are competing in the event sponsored by ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print MediaGroup, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network and Solar Sports and backed by Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribbean and XFM 92.3.

The other major sponsors are Pagcor, Rajah Broadcasting Network and Century Park Hotel.