By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES
Playing the Club Filipino layout in Danao City for the second straight day on Saturday gave Canlubang an additional edge entering Sunday’s final round of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Seniors Interclub at the Mactan Island Golf Club in Lapu-Lapu City as it padded its lead to three points against archrival Luisita.
That additional point could very much help the team at the tricky layout of the Philippine Air Force-run golf course, which features odd bodies of water and small greens.
Canlubang has a three-day aggregate of 404 points on rounds of 129, 140 and 135. Renato Unson led the team last Saturday with 48 points and was backed by David Hernandez with 47 and Luigi Yulo with 40 in this four-to-play three-to-count event using the Molave Points System. The fourth player was Tony Olives, whose 38 points did not count.
Defending champion Luisita, which jumped to the lead on the first day, fired 134 points in the third round for a total of 401. Ex-pro Eddie Bagtas led the team with 52 points and also counting were the 43 of Minieng Maravilla and 39 of Bong Sison.
Cebu Country Club remains at third with 390 points on rounds of 126, 130, and 134. Counting for the team total in the third round were club president Montito Garcia with two-over-par 52 points, his brother-in-law Efren Sarmiento with 46, and Dr. Lor Alaan with 36. The 32 of George Hong did not count.
Still at fourth and fifth are Ochard with 379 and Cebu’s Alta Vista Golf and Country Club with 354.
Alta Vista fired 117 points in the third round with Emir Abutazil leading the scorers by turning in 43 points. Club treasurer and golf director Ramon Sebastian added 40 and last to count was Kim Jae Eun with 34. The 32 of Jun Suan did not count.
The last Cebu team in the premier championship division, co-host Club Filipino still sits as tenth with a total of 270 points on rounds of 89, 89, and 92. The team, which is seeing action in the seniors’ event for the first time in years, is lumped in the premiere group due to the tournament rules.
Ramon ‘Boboy’Durano IV and Rolf Hess each turned in 32 points in the third round while lawyer Julius Neri made 28. The 26 of Rene Piano did not count.
FOUNDERS DIVISION
Eagle Ridge has practically wrapped-up the title of this second-ranked group with a three-day total of 371 points on rounds of 133, 127, and 111. Action for this category will shift to Club Filipino Sunday after they played Mactan during the second and third rounds.
What is very interesting to follow here will be the battle for second place with Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and Riviera tied with 356 points apiece and a close fourth is Pueblo de Oro with 352 and still within striking distance is Philippine Navy with 350.
Mactan is ranked 12th out of the 21 teams in this category. The Mactan squad has a three-day total of 330 points (124-101-105). Oscar Cornelio led the co-hosts during the third round with 40 points. Also counting for the team total were Edwin Espina 33 and Ting Creus 32. The 26 of Lando Alberto did not count.
Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the twin events – the PAL Seniors and the 68th PAL Men’s Interclub. Other backers include Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.
