By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES
Alta Vista Golf and Country Club remains the brightest hope for the Cebuanos in the 28th Philippine Airlines Interclub as the team held on to the second spot in the Founders Division as they played at the tight and tricky Bacolod Golf Club in the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental Friday.
Mercedes Plantation Golf and Country Club of Medellin, Cebu, which led the third-ranked Sportswriters Division after the first round, was disqualified for fielding a player, who is not in the line-up.
Cebu Country Club, one of the pre-tournament favorites, is at fifth spot in the premiere Championship Division, 25 points off the pace set by four-peat seeking Canlubang Country Club.
Mactan Island Golf Club, the fourth Cebu team in the tournament, continued to struggle in the Sportswriters Division where it lies at 13th spot.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Canlubang overtook first day leader Luisita and zoomed to the top with a two-day aggregate of 286 strokes after a second day of scoring 143 points in the four-to-play, three-to-count event using the Molave Points System.
Abe Avena and Rene Unson each fired 49 points while Mari Hechanova added 45 playing at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City. The 30 of team owner Luigi Yulo did not count.
Luisita dropped to second with 277 points (144-133). Scoring Friday were Francis Gaston with 47, Seve Roxas Chua made 44 and the 42 of Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richie Garcia was last to count.
Manila Golf is at third with 266 points (129-137) followed by Orchard with 262 (137-125).
Fielding a new set of players for the second round, Cebu Country Club scored 133 points Friday courtesy of club president Montito Garcia with 49, club GM Jeric Hechanova 44, and Dr. Lor Alaan with 40. The 38 of Masatsugu Ochiai did not count.
Hechanova said that he will be playing his second round Saturday along with Ray Gibbs, Alaan, and Nonoy Tirol.
FOUNDERS DIVISION
Co-host NOGCC coasted to the top of this second-ranked division with an aggregate of 255 points on rounds of 126 and 129.
Playing at Bacolod Golf Club, fondly called Binitin, Lito Ong led the Negrenses with 45 points while Jude Doctora and Rene Silos each turned in 42 points. The 40 of Tonchy de Leon did not count.
Alta Vista fired 123 points on the second round behind the 44 of skipper Razy Razon, 42 of Ed Acain, and 37 of Loloy Sabuga. Victor Gocela suffered a shoulder injury and limped home with 33 points, which did not count for the total.
Gocela told www.fullpointcebu.com that he has been given pain relievers as he needs to get back in shape for the men’s tournament next week where he is the team captain of Alta Vista.
For the third round, Alta Vista will have Japanese rookie Yasunori Hara, Masahisa Kawakami, rookie Emir Abutazil, and club treasurer Ramon Sebastian carrying the banner of Alta Vista.
Gocela believes that Alta Vista has two sets of players that could deliver in the final two days.
At third spot are Villamor and Pueblo de Oro with 249 points apiece. Villamor fired rounds of 127 and 122 while Cagayan de Oro-based Pueblo de Oro made 121 and 128.
Clifford Celdran fired 50 points for Pueblo de Oro Friday to lead his team.
First day leader Wack-Wack is down to fifth with 248 points (129-119) followed by Eagle Ridge with 246 (125-121).
SPORTSWRITERS DIVISION
Victorias seized the lead in this third-ranked group with a total of 216 points on rounds of 98 and 118.
At second is co-host Bacolod with 213 (104-109) while running third are Vancouver Golf Association of BC with 211 (109-102) and Guinhalaran also with 211 (106-105).
Mercedes Plantation made 117 points on the first round, but this was nullified after it was found out that the team fielded a player, who is not among those in the line-up that was submitted prior to the tournament.
Rounding up the top five is Sarangani with 210 (107-103).abad led the team Friday with 40 points and also counting for the total were Chandran Rama with 34 and either of the 25s submitted by General Nestor Deona and Leonardo Arevalo.
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.
