PAL Interclub Day One:

February 24, 2011

Cebu upstages favorites

in Men’s Interclub opener

MANOLO Fortich, Bukidnon – Cebu Country Club jumped out of the gates hard on Wednesday as Carl Almario fired a two-under-par 70 worth 38 points to lead the Cebuanos to a three-point advantage over Del Monte after the first round of the 64^th PAL Interclub Men’s championship.

Almario, brother of the late former national and PBA player Alfie, actually returned one of three 70s for the day and got able support from an unheralded backup crew as Cebu tallied 136 in a truly fine start at the heavily-wooded Del Monte course here.

Cebu’s Championship stint is actually its second, and Almario, together with Gio Gandionco, Mark Dy and Lloyd Go made sure that they would have an auspicious start.

Gandiongco fired 35 like Dy and Go assembled a 28 as Cebu threw away the 27 of Joseph Stevens.

Banny Abano also tallied 38 to pace Del Monte, the 2004 champion which got 34 points from Mel Cubillo, 31 from Julius Bautista. The hosts’ third score was either 30s of Magno Arancon Jr. or Mark Mondilla.

Canlubang lurked another point back after Art Arbole, a discovery from Bukidnon, also scored 38 that went with Paul Echavez’ 36, the 32 from veteran Abe Rosal and the 26 of Interclub debutant Gabriel Manotoc.

The 24 points of reigning Callaway World 12-under champion Ruperto Zaragosa III did not count in the Barons’ 132.

Over at Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro, Wack Wack zoomed to a six-point Founders’ Division lead over Alabang after getting 35 points from John Gobing and 34 each from Garry Uy and Oliver Gan that made up the bulk of its opening 131.

Hubert Lim’s 28 was the fourth score for Wack Wack as Tootsie de Jesus failed to count with a 27.

Arnel Paras scored 34 and Miguel Shah and JB Garcia each chipped in with 31 with young Basti Lorenzo accounting for 29 for Alabang’s second-running 125, which was three-up on Villamor.

Former junior golfer Jan Tambogon returned 35 points and Julius Pactolerin added 31 for Villamor, which had NGAP director Jun Arceo shooting 29 and Lito Toribio 27 for 122.

“We are not actually expecting to win, just win third or second,” Almario, 45, said. “But with the way things went today, who knows what can happen.”

Almario had six birdies overall against four bogeys.

Del Monte and Canlubang both didn’t start with their respective aces – Clyde Mondilla and Jobim Carlos – and took to looking at the field first before making their real moves.

Mondilla, the reigning Philippine Amateur champion, practiced both Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro and is expected to play in both venues, the same with Carlos, a member of the triumphant Lion City PH team in Indonesia.

This year’s competition is backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (DWWW).

Major sponsors are People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation, Asia Brewery and Traversing the Orient.

Also lending support are 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.

More detailed information on the tournament is available on the dedicated PAL Interclub webpage at www.palinterclub.com.

Cagayan Sneeze

MASTER BLASTER

Neil Bravo

CAGAYAN DE ORO—The banner says “Cagayan Heat.”

This is not Miami, but the Heat word fit perfectly for Cagayan, known better in the country as the “City of Golden Friendship.”

On Monday at the Pueblo de Oro course, the intense heat at mid-day was almost unbearable most especially if you are playing one of the worst games golf has ever seen. I played so bad I came down a sorry victim to the beauty that is Pueblo de Oro.

Lined with some of the best architectural masterpieces like glass-encased houses and Mediterranean-inspired structures, the fairways looked like a vast park and playground. Lakes surround some holes and the rolling terrain provide for a variety of hitting positions.

I marveled at the beauty of this Robert Trent Jones, Jr. creation. But that was all to it. Behind the disarming beauty are its killer charms.

I went down like a distraught lover dazed by its poison.

At the end of 18 holes, I limped back to the clubhouse with my heart broken. This beauty is just too unforgiving.

The next day, the entourage of the PAL media playing in the two-day tournament motored to nearby Del Monte. This mountain-top layout in cool pineapple-scented mountains of Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon is home to two of the country’s golfing greats—Celestino Tugot and Frankie Miñoza.

An early morning drizzle and an overcast sky lowered the temperature further.

Two holes after, we called it a day. The downpour made the fairways soggy and almost unplayable. There was no point playing on. The game and the course is no longer there to enjoy. The weather has taken over. But that’s golf.

Sometimes you play good. Sometimes you play bad.

And sometimes, you sneeze.

PAL Interclub returns to Davao next year

CAGAYAN DE ORO—The prestigious PAL Interclub golf tournament will make its return to Davao City next year.

Atty. Doming Duerme, vice president for Mindanao operations of the organizing Philippine Airlines, confirmed on Tuesday Davao’s hosting of the annual golfest, the country’s longest-running amateur golf tournament which draws no less than 167 teams, and counting.

“It’s go for Davao,” Duerme said on the eve of the Regular Men’s tournament.

Although Davao City is set to host the event following the regular hosting cycle, Cebu City was reported to have been a sentimental choice to make its own return to the Interclub scene after it last played host in 2001.

Apo Golf and Country Club and Rancho Palos Verdes are the regular the venues of the Interclub.

Meantime, four Davao teams are seeing action in the Regular Men’s play at Pueblo de Oro and nearby Del Monte Golf and Country Club. Davao Golf and Country Club will be seeing action in the Founder’s Division while Apo and Rancho Palos Verdes will be competing in the Sportswriters’ Division. Lanang GC and C will be the fourth Davao team entered in this event backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (DWWW).

Major sponsors are People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation, Asia Brewery and Traversing the Orient. Also lending support are 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. (NJB)

4 Davao teams in the thick of things in PAL Interclub

CAGAYAN DE ORO—Four teams are competing in the ongoing PAL Interclub which got going on Wednesday in this city of golden friendship.

Davao City Golf Club, Rancho Palos Verdes, Apo Golf and Country Club and Lanang will be carrying the fight for Davao in this annual golfing competition organized by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines.

The four teams are out to take on the challenge of the two courses providing the obstacle to the coveted plums.

Pueblo de Oro, a vast par-72 masterpiece of Robert Trent Jones, Jr. will showcase her natural beauty that has been the heartbreak of many who dared conquer her. Over at nearby Del Monte in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, the sweet fragrance of pineapples and the cool high-mountain temperature, could rear its ugly head too once rains like that of the Tuesday downpour get in the way.

The weather forecast did not look all too good either. Rains are expected in this part of the country in the next 24 hours.

But the mood is upbeat for the Davao golfers who were greeted by news of Davao’s hosting next year.

Davao Golf Club is composed of team captain Leonilo Dalut, former North Cotabato governor Manny Piñol, Willy de Leon, Larry Pasquil, Benhur Villarosa, Diemy Monadero, Marlon Aranas, Ludwig Ledesma, Martin Castillo and Manuel Banga.

Apo is fielding Bong Abang, Denden De Castro, Alimar Etrone, Leo Fusilero, Lucio Horfina Jr., Mark Oropeza, Edwin Pineda, Quintin Singson, Jing Tan, and Toffee Tionko.

Rancho Palos Verdes is represented by team captain Monchit Mackay, Vincent Gumapac, Ronald Galicia, Noel Yango, Chris Tan, Larry Miculob, Marc Lopez, Paul Garcia, Jeff Ramirez and Andrew Bautista.

Lanang is made of Randy Cadidgan, Peter Cabreros, Alrey Ceniza, Paul Dacudao, ABC Dizon, Leo Magno, Danny Nagayo, Dennis Salvador, Noe Taojo and Joe Tesado. (NJB)

PAL INTERCLUB

February 21, 2011

Del Monte hosts first and third rounds

CAGAYAN de Oro – Del Monte will host the first and third rounds of the 64th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub championship on Wednesday, a schedule that certainly augurs well for the hosts looking to win just their second title.

The bets from Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon will come into the four-day event installed as the slight favorites, owing mainly to their familiarity of the course and a 17-year-old spearhead named Clyde Mondilla.

Canlubang is the defending champion looking to win an unprecedented sixth straight title, but the Sugar Barons will be hard-pressed after losing Asian Games silver medal winner Miguel Tabuena two weeks before the start of the event.

Jobim Carlos and Ruperto Zaragosa III, a couple of age-group standouts, and the ageless Tommy Manotoc will banner the Barons. Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa have both turned pro and Jessie Balasabas couldn’t fit in the team because of the new handicapping system as Canlubang reactivated Abe Rosal and will be fielding another senior in Dave Hernandez.

Del Monte will no doubt be Mondilla’s team, and the son of the club’s caddy master is prepared to handle the pressure of the Interclub.

“I will just do my best and contribute in the best way possible to the team,” Mondilla said in Filipino before teeing off Monday for his practice round at Pueblo de Oro here. “There’s no pressure, actually, only the eagerness to play.”

Mondilla will be trying to anchor a charge that would deny Canlubang another sweep of hostilities after the Barons, through Manotoc and an intrepid backup crew, romped off with a 28-point victory over Luisita in the Seniors Championship Division on Sunday.

Aside from Modilla, playing captain Yoyong Velez, Bannie Abaño, Noel Langgamin, Julius Bautista, Leonard Lofranco, Lawrence Cubillo, Magno Arancon, Mark Mondilla and Borjing Lusterio are in the line-up.

Manila Southwoods may also be put in the championship with its star-studded roster which includes former national team member Jun Jun Plana, Vince Lauron, Teody Pacscual, and top junior golfers Miggy Yee and AR Ramos.

The Country Club is listed as doubtful as of this writing, but if the Laguna-based club decides to send an entry, it will be the hands-down choice as the team to beat with a huge number of talented amateurs in its stable.

After finishing second in the last three years, The Country Club had informed organizers last Feb. 11 that it might not be able to send a team this year. And should that happen, it will be suspended for next year and would have to reapply for membership if it wants to play in 2013.

This year’s competition is backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (DWWW). Major sponsors are People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation, Asia Brewery Inc. and Traversing the Orient.

Also lending support are 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.

More detailed information on the tournament is available on the dedicated PAL Interclub webpage at www.palinterclub.com.