BACOLOD City, Philippines – The seniors crown is home sweet home.
Behind a vintage performance by Francis Gaston, Luisita held on to beat Canlubang, clinch the PAL Interclub title and regain its old, lofty billing as the country’s finest seniors squad out on the fairways.
The Luisitans previously won 13 seniors titles in the PAL Interclub, and have gone dry since 2005. Canlubang won four straight championships until last year and was in search of a fifth one.
But not against this year’s Luisita bunch.
Gaston will probably have the trophy on his lap when he and his teammates fly out of Bacolod today. And he made sure this would happen by shooting 54 points, even-par-70, at the Marapara yesterday.
Luisita was just two shots up on Canlubang at the start of the day and at some point during the final round had given up the lead. It was Gaston, who didn’t do well last Saturday, who saved the day.
“I just couldn’t hit a decent shot (Saturday),” said Gaston, who brought a new swing to the final round, thanks to his teammate, Pepot Inigo, who saw his right elbow hitting his beer belly on his downswing.
A little change spelled the big difference.
“I knew that my heart alone would not make me improve my game. That’s why I sought the help of Pepot,” said Gaston.
Luisita also drew 46 points from Ritchie Garcia and 42 from Bong Sison for a 142 total for the day and a 550 and a four-point win against Canlubang, which had 140 despite Tommy Manotoc’s 50.
It was probably the best the former PBA grandslam coach could offer, and obviously it wasn’t enough. Also scoring for Canlubang on the final day were Bing Bunye (46) and Mari Hechanova (44).
Lino Magpantay, who was born and raised in Canlubang, had a big hand in the Luisita victory, being Luisita’s newest member. He had a 40 on the first day at Marapara and a 46 at Binitin last Saturday.
Even before the tournament started, Garcia felt good with Luisita’s chances this year.
“Winning the championship is always special, but this one is sweet because we waited so long for this,” he said, cooling himself at the clubhouse with a cold bottle of beer.
“Francis gave us a vintage performance,” said Manotoc, a true sportsman, as he took his hat off to Luisita’s main man. “It was nice seeing him play that way.”
With the seniors event done and over with, the younger ones are all set to take over when they vie for the regular crown starting on Wednesday.
Canlubang will get the chance to salvage some pride as it bids for a fifth straight regular men’s crown, but once again, will have to face some serious challenge as offered by Luisita in the seniors event.
Championship—Luisita 550 (129-146-133-142), Canlubang 546 (129-140-137-140), Forest Hills 425 (104-108-102-111), Fil-Oz Sydney 357 (86-94-87-90), South Bay 352 (Golf 88-98-95-71), Mercedes 343 (85-82-95-81), Taotaomuna 295 (70-80-74-71), Mabuhay Las Vegas 291 (93-66-70-62), Pittsburg 279 (68-63-75-73), Luzviminda 275 (93-81-47-54), Moffet 198 (77-57-64-DQ)
Founders — Orchard 525 (136-125-127-137), Eagle Ridge 520 (132-131-123-134), Wack Wack 511 (122-135-120-134), Alabang 511 (130-125-128-128), Camp John Hay 508 (126-123-134-125), Valley 505 (126-139-115-125), Manila Golf 499 (127-130-121-121), Mactan 499 (124-127-122-126), Negros 491 (124-115-129-123), Cebu Country Club 490 (121-113-118-137),Team LA 486 (121-119-120-126), Del Monte 481 (128-114-116-123), Chamorro 467 (108-116-114-129), Camp Aguinaldo 435 (108-96-113-118), Ang Tay 381 (93-93-93-102), Guam Seals 363 (95-80-93-95)
Sportswriters—Apo 500 (118-128-121-133), Fil-Am Hawaii 468 (112-102-135-119), Villamor 465 (120-116-121-108), Bacolod 465 (110-120-131-104), Philippine Navy 464 (123-107-115-119), Palos Verdes 464 (116-115-119-114), Alta Vista 461 (116-113-121-111), Manila Southwoods 454 (100-116-118-120), Riviera 453 (116-118-110-109), Iligan 443 (114-99-114-116), Maharlika 436 (111-109-111-105), Veterans 435 (107-118-110-100), Evangelista 428 (99-110-108-111), Pueblo de Oro 427 (104-112-96-115), PGA British Columbia 422 (99-103-98-122), Texas 421 (97-100-122-102), Vancouver ABC 400 (87-102-113-118), Lanang 411 (109-100-100-102), Iloilo 410 (106-93-104-107), Intramuros 408 (90-105-101-112), Mabuhay SFO 402 (95-93-113-101), Sienna Plantation 401 (102-97-103-99), Davao City 392 (86-114-95-97), , UP Tee Jots 387 (98-100-82-107), Bay Area 386 (74-116-100-96) Zamboanga 384 (93-96-106-89), Fort Bonifacio 377 (79-103-84-111), Baguio 377 (87-96-110-84), Florida 363 (77-75-97-114), Lumbia 352 (71-83-100-98), Brookside 341 (94-76-92-79), Fil-Am SFO 335 (107-100-64-64), SFO Peninsula 330 (68-81-73-108), Leyte 285 (73-72-65-75), Bennet Valley 270 (70-79-48-73), Par Breakers YVR 266 (58-74-59-75), Fil-Am New Jersey 253 (51-67-61-74), San Juanico 350 (89-67-95-99), Skywest 207 (70-46-46-45) San Diego 243 (83-94-66-DQ),
Friendship— Travellers SFO 369 (90-86-97-96), Filcansa 366 (96-81-93-96), Crystal Spring 365 (83-90-80-112), Saranggani 361 (89-87-96-89), SFO Alliance 349 (82-110-72-85), Viva Las Vegas 338 (79-83-85-91), South Cotabato 337 (87-76-92-82), Cotabato 336 (67-80-96-93), Pinoy Vancouver 333 (76-77-82-98), Guinhalaran 328 (81-85-84-78), Mt. Malindang 326 (90-74-80-82), Brotherhood Sharp 281 (75-49-80-77), Guam Seniors 281 (68-59-81-73)