By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES
Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and Mactan Island Golf Club will be bringing home honors to Cebu as the 28th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub closed Sunday in Negros Occidental.
Playing at the Bacolod Golf Club in the town of Murcia, Alta Vista came very close to pulling the rug from under pacesetter and co-host Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club to finish second in the Founders Division.
Negros, whose course is also fondly referred to as Marapara, fired a four-day total of 511 points after a sputtering finish. Alta Vista finished the tournament with 508 to take second place while third place in this second-ranked category went to Riviera with 504.
In the third-ranked Sportswriters Division, Mactan which was almost written off after the first two rounds, finished third behind Bacolod and Victorias.
Luisita also pulled a big one in the tournament for players aged 55 years old and above after upending Canlubang in the race for the Championship Division crown.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Tarlac-based Luisita turned to its mainstays from Bacolod on the final round to halt the run of Canlubang, which was gunning for a fourth straight crown.
Luisita fired a total of 564 points on rounds of 144, 133, 140, and 147 to0 win by two points. Counting for the team total in the four-to-play, three-to-count format during the final round were Negrenses Francis Gaston and Richie Garcia with 51 and 46 points respectively. Bong Sison submitted 50 points, but the 42 of comebacking Iggy Clavecilla did not count.
Other members of the champion team were Seve Roxas Chua, Lino Magpantay, Pepot Iñigo, and ex-pro Eddie Bagtas.
Canlubang finished with 562 points (143-143-133-143). The team is composed of Abe Avena, Mari Hechanova, Dave Hernandez, Saso Mazakazu, Tony Olives, Rene Unson, Rolly Viray, and team owner Luigi Yulo.
Third place went to Manila Golf with 536 points. Finishing fourth was Orchard with 535 while Cebu Country Club finished fifth with 529 on rounds of 128, 133, 123, and 145. Counting for the team total on the final round were club president Montito Garcia with one-under-par 55 points, Kim Kwang Seok 46, and Koichi Horii 45. The 35 of Masatsugu Ochiai did not count.
FOUNDERS DIVISION
Negros almost failed to protect a 16-points lead going into the final round, but had enough to hold back Alta Vista in the race for the title.
Negros fired rounds of 126, 129, 137, and 119. Counting for the team total on the final round were Lito Ong 42, Jude Doctora 41, and Chito Garcia 36. The 35 of Panyo Torre did not count. The other team members are Tonchy de Leon, Toto Rivera, Rene Silos, and Nene Tanpinco.
Alta Vista fired rounds of 128, 123, 125, and 132. Skipper Razy Razon fired 49 points in Binitin Sunday and was backed by Emir Abutazil with 45 and club treasurer Ramon Sebastian with 38. The 37 of Loloy Sabuga did not count. The other members of the team are Ed Acain, Victor Gocela, Yasunori Hara, and Masahisa Kawakami.
Riviera took third place with a total of 504 points.
SPORTSWRITERS DIVISION
Bacolod ruled this group with an aggregate of 434 points on rounds of 104, 109, 109, and 112.
Victorias finished second with 431 points (98-118-110-105) followed by Mactan with 424.
Mactan had rounds of 98, 99, 118, and 109. Noel Abad led Mactan in the final round with 44 points while Lando Alberto added 40. The last to count was Pedro del Rosario with 25 while the 23 of General Nestor Deona did not count. The other members of the team are Tony Amor, Leonardo Arevalo, Pedriot Buenavista, and Chandran Rama.
The battle for the Friendship Division title was still going on as of press time.
This year’s Interclub is 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 Corporation and Manila Bulletin.
