Cebu girds for 3rd PAL Interclub title

BACOLOD, Philippines – Focus will be on Cebu Country Club because it’s truly capable of winning a third straight Philippine Airlines Interclub men’s golf title here.

But in reality, there are other teams that deserve some attention.

“It’s a good four-team race,” said Jeric Hechanova, general manager of the Cebu Country Club, on the eve of the country’s most prestigious golf team championship.

Hechanova pointed to Del Monte, Alabang and Orchard as the other teams to watch out for. He did not mention Southwoods when it also has a chance.

The opening round is set today at Binitin, also known as the Bacolod Golf and Country Club. Then it moves over to the tougher Marapara layout for the second round before switching back for the third and fourth rounds.

Everybody wants to get off to a good start at Binitin because it’s easier to do it in that layout. Marapara has never been a friendly course, and it’s not a good place to gamble.

Hechanova said they will field Gen Nagai, Jovi Neri, Carl Almario, Kiyofumi Takahashi and newcomer Harvey Sytiongsa for the opening round of the five-to-play, four-to-count event.

If these players deliver today, Cebu CC gets the needed headstart.

To be missed by the Cebuanos this year are the services of Mark Dy, who had turned pro, and LJ Go, the reigning national amateur champion who’s on a golfing scholarship in the United States.

“We still have a good chance,” said Hechanova, confident that the Cebuanos have what it takes to win again and join the short and elite list of three-peat winners.

Out to foil their bid are Del Monte led by Magno Arancon, a product of their grassroots program; and Alabang, which has Andres Saldana, Justin Quiban, Basti Lorenzo, Miguel Shah and Gabriel Manotoc.

Saldana is turning pro soon, and he wants to leave with a bang.

Takahashi suited up for Cebu CC four years ago but missed out on the succeeding years, leaving Sytiongsa, who’s just 18, as the only rookie player for the reigning champions.

The others in the Cebuano lineup are Montito Garcia and the multi-titled Eric Deen as well as Marko Sarmiento, Andre Borromeo and Bayani Garcia.

Southwoods has something to show as well as Orchard.

Meanwhile, Sienna Plantation, behind Gerry Price (39 points), Augusto Madrigal (38) and Ely Salva (25), dominated the Friendship division of the recent PAL Seniors Interclub, posting a 33-point victory over the Melbourne Pinoy side with a 420 total. The team from Down Under pooled a 387 behind Mario Pedrola’s 36 points, Valentino Beltran’s 30 and Poly Magpantay’s 25.

This year’s Interclub is being co-sponsored by CrossOver with Boeing, Philippines Graphic, Stargate Media (People Asia) and Rogue as corporate backers. Also lending support are Airbus, Business Mirror, One Mega Group (Travel Now), Philippine Broadcasting Corporation, Manila Broadcasting Corp.  and Petron.