CCC climbs to 3rd just 7 pts off pace in PAL golf

Two-time champions Cebu Country Club (CCC) continues to make headway in the standings as the Cebuanos are now in third spot in the Championship division after three rounds of the 68th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Golf Tournament at the Club Filipino de Cebu course in Danao.

CCC scored 121 points yesterday for a three-day total of 358 points but remained seven shots behind new leader Manila Southwoods.

Youngster Gen Nagai led CCC’s scoring at the up-and-down layout with 33 points while former pro Mark Dy added 32. Burly Bayani Garcia pitched in 29 and Carl Almario added 27. Harvey Sytiongsa’s 26 did not count.

But even with a round that was described as “mediocre” by the veteran Almario, the Cebuanos still have a huge chance of snatching the crown as they head to the cozy confines of their own backyard for today’s fourth and final round.

“It was really a mediocre round. We could have played much, much better. But seven shots down is very manageable and to be in the place that we’re in especially after being behind by that much after the first round, I think the pressure will now be on the other teams,” said Almario.

Nagai will banner CCC’s last-ditch bid for the crown along with Eric Deen, Marko Sarmiento, Kiyofumi Takahashi and skipper Montito Garcia.

While CCC continues in its pursuit for a third title in four years, Manila Southwoods became the third leader of the tournament by scoring 126 points for a total of 365, one ahead of defending champion Orchard.

Former pro Vince Lauron scored 34 points, Jose Sajulga and Joseph Tambunting had 31 each and Justin Quiban added 30 as Southwoods stayed on target for its first ever Championship title in over a decade.

Rodel Mangulabnan was the top man for Orchard with a level 36 while King Stehmeier added 32 to make up the bulk of the defending champions’ 124 for the day and 364 overall.

Wack Wack, the surprise second round leader, struggled to a 116 for 357 and tied Del Monte at fourth place.

Meanwhile, Alabang got 31s from Liam Cully and Philippe Palanca, 28 from Anthony See and 26 from Arnel Paras for a 116 also at Club Filipino and 355 for a 22-point lead over Apo Golf and Alta Vista in the Founders Division. Alta Vista managed 114 behind the 34 of Jun Zambo, the 30 of Weiyu Gao, the 26 of Victor Gocela and the 24 of Andrew Woo Chul.

Socal Red Hawk all but put the Sportswriters title away with a 33-point lead over Fil-Am Hawaii and Stanford Golf after firing 104 at CCC for a 321 tally.