Clavecilla sparks Luisita fightback

MANOLO FORTICH, BUKIDNON ,Philippines  - Skipper Iggy Clavecilla took the cudgels for Luisita yesterday, firing 55 points as the defending champions closed in on rival Canlubang with a 150 halfway through the 64th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf tournament at the Del Monte Golf Club.

Clavecilla bucked shaky putting to shoot a one-under par 71 in stroke play worth 55 Molave points, giving the Luisitans’ title retention bid a big boost heading to the last 36 holes of the annual event.

The Tarlac-based squad also got 50 points from Mining Maravilla as well as 45 from either Lino Magpantay or Francis Gaston for that 150 and a 302 as Luisita chopped three points off the Sugar Barons’ overnight seven-point cushion.

Canlubang slowed down with a 147 at the challenging par-72 layout in the highlands of Bukidnon after a solid opening of 159 at Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan but remained at the helm at 306.

Dave Hernandez matched par for 54 points, Bing Bunye had 47 and Rolly Viray added a 46 while Luigi Yulo’s 44 didn’t count for Cangolf in the four-to-play, three-to-count format.

Running a far third in the event backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (DWWW) was Cebu Country Club which had a 280 aggregate built around 139-141, followed by Pueblo de Oro (133-138) and Alabang (134-133).

“We’re lucky nakakuha kami ng three points ngayon, four down na lang (We’re lucky to slice the deficit down to four points entering Day 3),” said Clavecilla, who could have easily gone four or five-under if not for a couple of muffed birdie putts inside three feet.

“I hope our shock troopers will deliver tomorrow (today) because Canlubang will field in Tommy (Manotoc), who will definitely go under-par. If we can maintain this (deficit) or further cut it down going into the last day (on Sunday), it’s going to be one hell of a dogfight,” Clavecilla said.

Luisita could have at least caught up with Canlubang if only Gaston, hero of their title conquest last year, played true to form. Gaston skied with a nine-over, his output hardly helping the Luisitans’ cause.

Canlubang, for its part, is happy to still enjoy the upperhand going into today’s pivotal Day 3, also at Del Monte. But it is poised for a down-to-the-wire battle in the tourney also sponsored by People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation and Traversing the Orient.

“Mahirap talaga yung course (Del Monte) kaya yung scores dito, expected na medyo tataas nang konti (It’s really tough at Del Monte that’s why we expect high scores here),” said Canlubang’s Tony Olives, referring to the challenging Del Monte layout that will test the skills of the competitors for the second straight day.

“May bukas pa. It’s not over, aabot ito ng last day (There’s still tomorrow and it will boil down to the final day),” said Olives, who bannered Canlubang’s first-day charge at Pueblo de Oro over in Cagayan de Oro with a 54 but sat out the Day 2 hostilities. 

The PAL Interclub is also supported by corporate sponsors Manila Bulletin and Bombo Radyo Philippines, while minor sponsors are Lufthansa Technik Philippines, MasterCard and Century Park Hotel. Prize donors include Panasonic Avionics and Tanduay.

For more information, visit www.palinterclub.com.