By NIMROD NL QUINONES
Cebu Country Club got a big lift from many-time club champion and former club president Ramontito Garcia to take solo second in the Founders division of the 30th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Seniors Interclub played at the Mimosa Golf Club in Angeles City, Pampanga.
In the premiere Championship division, Luisita padded its lead against Canlubang to 12 points midway through the four-day tournament for players aged 55 years old and above.
Host Mimosa still holds the driver’s seat in the second-ranked Founders division with a two-day total of 289 points on rounds of 149 and 140 in this four-to-play, three-to-count event using the Molave Points System.
Enrico Santos led Mimosa with 49 and also counting for the team total were Noel Yamzon 48 and Danny abad 43.
Garcia, a veteran competitor in the PAL Interclub, fired one-over-par 53 points, the best round for the day, to help the Cebuanos to a two-day aggregate of 275 points on rounds of 133 and 142. Also counting for the team total were George Hong with 45 and Nonoy Tirol with 44. The 41 of Efren Sarmiento did not count.
Orchard is at solo third with 266 (129-137) followed by Pueblo de Oro (133-127) and Manila Golf (131-129) at joint fourth with 260 points each.
Cebu’s Alta Vista Golf and Country Club remains at sixth spot with a two-day output of 244 points on rounds of 126 and 118.
Wendell Yap led the team with 40 points while Victor Gocela and Jun Suan each carded 39 points. Skipper Roy Damole, who was forced to play despite feeling under the weather managed only 29 and did not count for the team total.
Damole told www.fullpointcebu.com that he was forced to play as Masahisa Kawakami asked to rest after playing during the first round. He said that the Cebu-based Japanese national will be joining Emir Abutazil, Razi Razon and Ramon Sebastian for the third day.
He remains hopeful that the team can still move up the rankings.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Ex-pro Eddie Bagtas fired 50 points Friday to lead Luisita. The Tarlac-based team now has a total of 288 points on rounds of 146 and 142.
Also counting for the team total were Benjie Sumulong with 48 and Minieng Maravilla with 44. Bong Sison, their fourth player for the second day, signed a wrong scorecard and was disqualified.
Canlubang brought in their top gun, Tommy Manotoc, who shot 51 points to lead his team. The team now has an aggregate of 276 on identical rounds of 138.
Also counting for the team total were Rolly Viray with 44 and Zaldy Villa with 43. The 41 of did not count.
Jeric Hechanova, GM and non-playing captain of Luisita, hinted of a possible reshuffle in their line up to protect their lead as all their eight players have already seen action.
A player can only play two rounds within the four-day period.
The scoring system awards seven points for a double-eagle, six for an ace, five for eagle, four for birdie, three for par, two for bogey, and one for double-bogey. A player, who fails to hole out after missing on a double-bogey must pick-up or the team gets slapped a two-point penalty.
The 69th PAL Interclub is sponsored by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.
Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land and Rolls-Royce.
The scores:
CHAMPIONSHIP – Luisita 288 (146-142), Canlubang 276 (138-138)
FOUNDERS – Mimosa 289 (149-140), Cebu Country Club 275 (133-142), Orchard
266 (129-137), Pueblo de Oro 260 (133-127), Manila Golf 260 (131-129), Alta Vista 244 (126-118), Socal Redhawks 241 (118-123), Alabang 238 (118-120), Vancouver ABC 217 (114-103), Lanang 214 (112-102), SF Maharlika 191 (96-95), Northbay Boys 188 (103-85)
AVIATOR – Eagle Ridge 278 (128-150), Negros Occidental 265 (130-135), Villamor 245 (120-125), Wack Wack 230 (117-113), Riviera Golf 229 (121-108), Davao City 224 (111-113), Guam Seals 220 (111-109), Zamboanga 215 (111-104), Camp Evangelista 210 (109-101), Team Brookside 205 (106-99), San Juanico Park 204 (99-105), Filcansa 200 (96-104), Manila Southwoods 187 (121-66),
SPORTSWRITERS – Forest Hills 235 (113-122), Del Monte 230 (127-103), Club Intramuros 225 (108-117), Iloilo 220 (116-104), Fil-Am Fairfield 215 (113-102), Philam Golf of Central Florida 209 (109-100), Baguio Country Club 202 (105-97), Sienna Plantation 199 (108-91), Lumbia 194 (99-95), EZ-PAR 189 (77-112), Bay City Alameda 189 (102-87), Travelers 188 (94-100), Via Verde Los Angeles 182 (97-85), IAGC 176 (94-82), Club Filipino de Cebu 176 (94-82), Fort Bonifacio 154 (83-71)
FRIENDSHIP – PGA British Columbia 218 (107-111), South Cotabato 217 (114-103), UP Tee Jots 189 (96-93), Parbreakers 188 (107-81), Bay Area 187 (107-81), Team Taotaomuna 185 (82-103), Mt. Malindang 179 (113-66), CANPHIL 166 (70-96), Fil-Am SFO 163 (89-74), Guam Seniors 161 (70-91), Tri-City Golf 157 (87-70), Leyte 150 (78-72), Brotherhood Sharp 149 (85-64), Melbourne Pinoy 145 (68-77), West Covina Warriors 142 (82-60)
