Manotoc back for Canlubang in PAL Interclub

MANILA, Philippines - Canlubang toughens up for the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub as it tries to wrest the crown from arch-rival Luisita when the Seniors competition is fired off tomorrow at the Mactan Island and Club Filipino layouts in Cebu.

Tommy Manotoc returns to the Cangolf roster after a two-year absence and will again lead the squad when it seeks to bounce back from a narrow loss to the Luisitans in Bacolod last year.

Senior action gets going tomorrow with the regular men’s championship to start next Wednesday at Club Filipino and Cebu Country Club. Orchard is the defending men’s champion.

Manotoc served two years as president of the National Golf Association of the Philippines during his absence and battled health issues that prevented him from also playing in the annual event.

Back in form and able to play a lot of golf again after stepping down from the top NGAP post last year, Manotoc is again listed as the man to beat in individual play and will be the anchor of Canlubang that last won also in Cebu two years ago.

“I’m excited to see old friends and play with them again,” Manotoc, whose term as NGAP president included a first championship in 17 years for the Philippines in the Putra Cup in 2013, said.

“Playing in the Interclub, especially for Canlubang, and doing battle with Luisita is something we look forward to every year,” Manotoc, a many-time individual champion, said. “The competition will be fierce but friendly at the same time.”

Old hands Dave Hernandez, Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova and Tony Olives will again be there for the Sugar Barons, while Francis Gaston, Richie Garcia and ex-pro Eddie Bagtas will again spearhead the Luisitans.

Final round action will be at Club Filipino, a bending, up-and-down course designed in a mountain where precision will be the premium.

Fielding will as usual be key for both sides with the event to end at Mactan, a course right beside the airport where the greens are small and the roughs tall.

Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the twin events. Other backers include Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.