PAL Seniors Interclub
Bacolod – Packing firepower on a day it needed to, Canlubang on Thursday conquered the tough test that is Marapara and broke out of the gates hard in the 32nd PAL Seniors Interclub championship.
Damasus Wong scored a three-over-par 73 worth 51 points and brothers Abe and Pem Rosal combined for 99 more in a very trying round at the tree-lined, bending layout here for an opening 150 that had the Sugar Barons announcing their capability of unseating star-studded Luisita.
It was the kind of start that was heaven and earth compared to the way the Barons opened up in Davao last season and practically lost its “four-peat” bid in the first 18 holes after shooting just 124 to trail the Luisitans by 21 right away.
“That was a fluke,” said Cangolf non-playing skipper Tony Olives as the Barons opened up with a solid four-man team to make sure that what happened at Apo Golf doesn’t see a repeat.
So efficient were the Barons that they threw away the 48 of Zaldy Villa, even as Luisita was led by the 50 of former University of Santo Tomas cager Edmund Yee and the 49 of Rodel Mangulabnan.
The Luisitans counted either 47s of Jingy Tuason and Chino Raymundo, with Del Monte bringing up the rear of the compact Championship Division field by scoring 132 to be 18 points behind.
Abe Rosal, the defending individual champion, pooled 50 points but would likely be abandoning aspirations of a repeat should he be called to play again in the final round on Sunday, which will also be at Marapara.
The individual championship is only given to the player with the best 36-hole total played over both courses.
Despite going into Friday’s second round trailing, Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova praised his charges and gave credit where it is due.
“We’re happy with the way we scored,” Hechanova said. “My hat’s off to Canlubang for that very good score, but I feel we’re going to get stronger as the tournament wears on.”
Both sides have deep benches, with Hechanova saying that former pro Eddie Bagtas will be spearheading a second round team that will also have Benjie Sumulong, Raffy Garcia and Chito Laureta over at Binitin in Murcia town.
Cangolf, meanwhile, played its cards close to its chest although the Barons could opt for fresh legs and still come up with a formidable roster with Dave Hernandez, Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova and Abe Avena sitting out the first round.
Pem Rosal, a physician who has called the United States home for the last 30 years, was clearly the revelation for the Barons as he more than held his own at the Golem Silverio-designed gem that practically made matching par impossible because of the conditions.
“The winds are nothing like in the States,” said Pem Rosal, who had pro Jun Bernis carry his bag for some inputs on how to play the course. “The course is also too tight and narrow.”
Wong, a businessman, was nine points better than he was in Cangolf’s atrocious opening round last year, playing the final nine holes at level by scrambling splendidly around the greens.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
