Southwoods, Rancho Palos rule PAL Ladies golf

DAVAO -- Manila Southwoods-Masters easily brushed aside the brave challenge put up by Del Monte to romp away with the championship division title in the final round of the revived sixth Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub held at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Friday.

Regine de Guzman made sure there won't be any slip-up, firing four birdies including back-to-back hits on Nos. 10 and 11 for a two-under-par 70, worth 56 PAL points for Southwoods-Masters which wound up with a 624. The Sunshine Baraquiel and bubbly Beachie Abiera provided good support with 51 and 49, respectively.

De Guzman also collared the individual crown in Flight A, narrowly edging out Anya Tanpinco, 113-112.

"Everyone's excited with the win. We're proud to be the champs in the PAL Ladies Interclub after a 23-year absence," said Beachie Abiera, captain of Southwoods-Masters.

Although the outcome has been known after the third round, Del Monte still tried to put on a pretty end to its campaign. Eva Minoza had an impressive 55 to lead way for the Bukidnon-based squad. Pam Mariano's 47 and Apple Fudolin's 45 were added in the four-to-play, three-to-count for 147 and a 570 total.

Rainstar Roque, Del Monte's 12-year-old teen wonder, captured the Flight B tiara with 89 points.

Alabang, the last winner of the championship division in the 1988 edition of the tournament, was victorious also, though this time, in the Founders Division.

Though it trailed Negros in 36 holes, the Alabang girls surged ahead in the third round with a 121 then capped it off in the final 18 with a 128 on Anna Mendoza's 47, Rita Horan's 46 and Joan Morales' 37 for 491.

Negros, which got 132-136 mainly because of Tanpinco's excellent games, stumbled with 96 and 105 for 469. As a consolation, Tanpinco was runner-up in the individual honors in Flight A behind de Guzman.

Riviera (99-425), Valley Golf-South (105-414), Cebu Country Club (103-391) and Mactan (93-371) completed the cast in the Founders.

Southwoods made it a double celebration as its Legends team stamped its class in the Sportswriters Division. Claudine Garcia and Nini Samaniego each carded a 44 while Heidi Schettkat added a 31 for 119 and 425.

Eagle Ridge was a far second with 395 after it assembled 100 on the 38 of Linda Goble, 34 of Jessie Cho and 28 of Edith Williams. Bacolod was third with 387 and Manila Golf fourth with 372. The Kooka-Birdies from Australia ended with a 173.

The Friendship Division was also a no-contest as host Rancho Palos Verdes (102-403) handily defeated fellow local Apo (92-355). At third place was Davao (83-333) followed by Victorias (101-325), Iloilo (73-308), Tagaytay Highlands (81-295), Japan (79-264), Malarayat (76-259) and Valley Golf North (77-230) competed in the same bracket.(pr)

Del Monte wins PAL Interclub by 18 points

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Del Monte Golf Club ended Canlubang’s five-year reign in the 64th Philippine Airlines Men’s Interclub golf team championships Saturday following a strong finish at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.

With Noel Langamin firing 37 points on the strength of five birdies against four bogeys, Del Monte outscored Cebu Country Club and Canlubang in the final round with 141 points for a four-day total of 535.

Unheralded Leonardo Lofranco and Vince Lusterio shot 36 and 35 points, respectively while reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla rounded out Del Monte’s scoring with 33.

The lopsided 18-point victory marked the second time Del Monte won the event, the first coming in 2004.

“The new team average enforced this year makes us a title contender,” said Del Monte playing captain Yoyong Velez who failed to count with 30 points. “We hope to return next year in Davao to defend our title.”

Cebu Country Club edged Canlubang for second place via tiebreak after both teams wound up with 535 points apiece.

The scores of both teams’ fifth player were taken to break the tie. CCC’s Marko Sarmiento shot 30 points as opposed to Canlubang’s Rolly Viray who had 28 points.

CCC was led by Carl Almario’s 37 points followed by Bayani Garcia’s 34 and a pair of 32s by Jovi Neri and Chuckie Hong.

Canlubang, on the other hand, was paced by veteran Dave Hernandez who turned in 37 points. The other scorers were Rupert Zaragosa (35), Jobim Carlos (34) and Migo Ochoa (29).

Alabang captured the Founders’ division after scoring 119 points at Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon for a four-day total of 481 points.

Rocco Sumabat and Andres Saldana paced Alabang with 32 points apiece followed by Juan Ibazeta (30) and Jama Reyes (25).

Riviera settled for second place with 468 points despite a final round 123 points.

Scorers for Riviera were James Wang (34), Pepot Inigo (32), Jon Judan (32) and Al Quintancon/Bobby Celestino (25).

Third place with 458 points was Orchard which leaned on King Stehmeier (29), Louie Garcia (27), Mike Mapua (26) and Byron Kyucho (25).

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. (pr)

Del Monte hosts first and third rounds

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, who won this event in overwhelming fashion over The Country Club last year in Negros.

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.

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.

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.

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. (pr)

Senior, Men’s PAL battles to be decided in Bukidnon

SENIORS and Men’s action in the Philippine Airlines Interclub – like in every stop of the country’s longest running and most prestigious amateur team championship – will be held in two venues that have vastly different characters.

Del Monte in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, though, is where the titles in both divisions are expected to be clinched.

Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro will be the other site, and there, scores are expected to be low even though the well-manicured layout is the longer of the two courses.

“The trickiness of Del Monte will be the key,” Tommy Manotoc, the multi-titled amateur champion who will play for Canlubang in both divisions, said yesterday moments before practicing at Pueblo.

“It’s a straight-hitters’ course, which would demand a lot from players for them to score,” continued the 61-year-old former Asia-Pacific senior champion, referring to the gem laid out inside a vast pineapple plantation.

“Pueblo, on the other hand, is a long-hitters’ course that could be rewarding at times. But practically all of the players (in the field) can hit it long, that’s why Del Monte could be the turning point.”

The field will play Pueblo and Del Monte twice in four days, and the final format of the event will be known in today’s captains’ meeting, though Manotoc said that the initial format was for Pueblo-Del Monte-Del Monte-Pueblo.

Last year, the format had the difficult Marapara layout hosting the second and fourth days, with Luisita clinching the Senior diadem through the heroics of Francis Gaston, who beat Manotoc by four strokes.

The Seniors competition will take the lid off of the 64th edition of the Interclub starting tomorrow, with Men’s action to follow on Feb. 23 where Canlubang will aim to win the event an unprecedented sixth straight time.

Luisita will be fielding practically the very same team that upset the Sugar Barons in senior play last year, and the division is expected to be a toss-up between just two teams unlike in Men’s play where a lot of squads can contend because of the new rules.

Del Monte is the prohibitive pick this early, owing to its players’ familiarity of the layout. Del Monte also won its first and by far only title in 2004, when Northern Mindanao first hosted the Interclub.

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 and Traversing the Orient.

Also lending support are corporate sponsors Manila Bulletin and Bombo Radyo Philippines, while minor sponsors are Lufthansa TechnikPhilippines, 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.philippineairlines.com/events/events.jsp.(pr)

Wide-open Men’s Interclub race seen

For probably the first time in its rich history, the Philippine Airlines Interclub’s Men’s championship event promises to have a wide-open fight after the new handicapping system was implemented for the 64th edition of the country’s longest running and most prestigious amateur golf team event.

Talents that used to play for just one or two teams have now been evenly spread, making it anybody’s race when the Men’s event tees off Feb. 23 at the Pueblo de Oro layout in Cagayan de Oro and the Del Monte course in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Canlubang is the defending champion in the event, but the Sugar Barons will have their work cut out for them after losing their nucleus to the pro ranks and World Amateur veteran Jessie Balasabas to the handicapping system.

Each team will now be required to form a 10-man squad with an overall handicap rating of 62, meaning that each player should carry a handicap of 6.2 according to their PAL Interclub stints.

Should a rookie see action, his home course handicap will be used.

Balasabas, owing to a good showing last year in the Sugar Barons’ fifth straight conquest in Negros, has a near-scratch PAL average, forcing Canlubang to look for other players in order to fit in the new system.

The Country Club, the second placer in each of the last two years, will field in practically the same lineup after some of its players posted high scores last year at the Marapara and Binitin courses in Negros.

Del Monte will have reigning Philippine Amateur champion Clyde Mondilla backstopping its squad as it aims to win its second Men’s title in its home turf, the same way it did in 2004 when the Interclub first visited Northern Mindanao.

The event actually gets going with the Seniors championship on Feb. 16 where PAL president Jaime Bautista will hit the ceremonial drive.

Luisita is the defending champion and it aims to hold off perennial contender Canlubang and the ageless Tommy Manotoc from wresting back the crown the Barons last won in Davao.

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

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

Also lending support are corporate sponsor 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.philippineairlines.com/events/events.jsp.(PR)

S’woods opens 3-peat bid in Luzvimin golf

Manila Southwoods hopes to come out strong and build some momentum for its bid
for a third straight championship in the WGAP-Luzvimin golf tournament which
fires off  on Sept. 3 at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.
The Carmona-based golfers used a strong start in completing their back-to-back
title romp at the Fairways and Bluewater in Boracay last year, posting an early
24-point lead over Del Monte before cruising to a 51-point victory over Alabang
in the premier Diamond division.
But Southwoods expects a more challenging campaign this time as they go up
against 18 other teams, headed by host Del Monte, out to flash its familiarity
with the tough layout on a team built around Marian Woo, Kristine Leonen, Eva
Minoza and Pamela Soriano.
Regina de Guzman, who keyed Southwoods’ runaway victory last year, is back for
the team as she likewise guns for a third straight victory in the individual
side of the tournament organized by the Women's Golf Association of the Phils.
Joining De Guzman in the Southwoods team are Lora Roberto, Katrina Gonzales,
Beachie Abiera, Claire Ong, Claudine Garcia and Sandy Velhagen.
The other teams seeing action in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format event
are Alta Vista, Bacolod Golf and Country Club, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp John Hay,
Canlubang, Cebu Golf and Country Club, Forest Hills, Mactan Coral, Manila Golf
Club, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Pueblo de Oro, Riviera, Santa
Elena, Tagaytay Highlands, Villamor Golf Club and Wack Wack.
Also up for grabs in the event, played under the Molave scoring system, are the
team titles in Ruby and Pearl divisions and individual honors in Classes A, B
and C.
Villamor, the defending champion in the Ruby division, is headed by Cora
Aguinaldo, Jo Barredo, Marissa Romano, Amelou Juinio, Tet Abad Santos, Vivian
Mawis, Mylene Vinluan Dolonious with non-playing team captain Lydia Reyes.
Alabang, meanwhile, will pin its hopes on Rita Horan, Lorna Tabuena, Marilyn
Reyes and Marjorie Lopinco, while Pearl division winner Riviera is expected to
be led by Gilda Medestomas, Josie Amon, Marty Fernando, Lourdes Roxas and
Raquel Banawa.
Villamor scored a 20-point victory over Cebu Country Club in Ruby division
while
Riviera routed Baguio with a closing 180 for a 63-point romp in Pearl division.(pr)