For fallen teammate
Bacolod– Handling final round pressure like grizzled veterans do, the Canlubang Sugar Barons did more than protect a handsome lead on Sunday and returned as kings in the PAL Seniors Interclub championship.
Playing for a departed former teammate, the Barons took the full measure of Luisita’s fancied, rock-solid final round crew and tallied 140 points over tough-as-nails Marapara to win the centerpiece Championship Division in upset style by eight points.
Abe Rosal came out first and fired a four-over-par 74 worth 50 points with Zaldy Villa contributing 46 and either 44s of Damasus Wong or Rolly Viray counting as the Barons amassed a 72-hole 573 and put behind the bitter memories of an 11-point loss in Davao last year.
More importantly, this group of Barons accomplished what they came here to do, and that is to win this tournament for Mike Preysler.
“This is for Mike,” a jubilant Cangolf owner Luigi Yulo announced while being given the victory ride by the Barons just off the 18th green. “He would have loved to be here and help us win this one. This is the least we could do for him and I hope he’s happy.”
Preysler played for the Barons last year and stumbled at the Apo Golf and Rancho Palos Verdes courses despite packing great credentials. His teammates said that Presyler was very hard on himself after that and vowed to help the Barons regain the championship this year.
But he succumbed to stomach cancer late last year and passed and Cangolf scrambled for a replacement and tapped Pem Rosal, a physician who is Abe’s younger brother.
Pem spearheaded Cangolf’s telling third round performance at Binitin in Murcia town on Saturday where the Barons turned an overnight two-point deficit into a seven-point lead, which Abe and his crew ably protected for the club’s 10th title overall.
“The key (to the win) was the third round,” Yulo said. “I think they (Luisitans) made an error in fielding (their players) and they opted for a stronger final round team.”
Benjie Sumulong assembled 50 points, Rodel Mangulabnan fired 45 and former pro Eddie Bagtas had 44 for Luisita, which discarded the 41 of Jingy Tuason for 565.
Del Monte was the best scorer for the day with 148 after getting 52 points from Yoyong Velez. Raul Minoza and Titing Callo fired 48 apiece for the Bukidnon-based squad amassed 549.
“We will try to rise from this defeat and try to win it back next year,” said Luisita Captain Jeric Hechanova, who conceded defeat at around the time the final flight was to play No. 13.