Canlubang, Luisita duel looms in PAL Seniors

By: 11 years ago

BACOLOD CITY – Luisita rallied mightily at the Binitin golf course Saturday to set up a titillating final round showdown with defending champion Canlubang in the 27th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships.
Nine points down at the start of the third round, Luisita struck through Eddie Bagtas to assemble 140 points and trim its deficit to just two points.
Luisita has a three-round aggregate of 417.
The 58-year-old Bagtas fired 51 points behind two birdies against five bogeys and was ably supported by Bong Sison’s 45 and Lino Magpantay’s 44. Pepot Inigo did not count with 39.
Bagtas said he wanted to play in the final round, but felt the team needed to cut the deficit to manageable level.
“Nasa kanila na ang bola,” said Bagtas, referring to his teammates who will play in the final round.
Canlubang turned in 133 points – 10 points lower than their output in the first two rounds.
Dave Hernandez led the Sugar Barons with 49 points while Tony Olives and Rene Unson counted with 43 and 41, respectively.
Orchard posted the day’s best score at Binitin with 142 points to seize third place with 404, but remained 15 points behind Canlubang.
Manila Golf slid to fourth with 396 after collecting 130 points from Eduardo Cu-unjieng (45), Arsenic Laurel (44) and OV Espiritu (41).
Rounding out the top five standings in the championship division were Cebu Country Club 123-384 and Camp John Hay 113-325.
FOUNDERS
In the Founders division, NOGCC-Marapara built a 14-point cushion over Alta Vista after collecting 137 points.
Toto Rivera shot 48, Tonchy de Leon submitted 46 and Nene Tanpinco added 43 as Marapara hiked its total to 392.
Alta Vista assembled 125 points behind the 43 points apiece of Emir Abutazzil and Ramon Sebastian and the 39 of Sang Hara.
Wack Wack and Riviera Golf stood at third and fourth with 373 and 372, respectively.
In other divisions, Victorias led Bacolod by four points in the Sportswriter division which saw Mactan soar to third overall with 315 points while Sienna Plantation paced the Friendship bracket. /PR