BACOLOD—John Kier Abdon anchored a swashbuckling finish on Saturday, shooting a two-over-par 72 worth 34 points to lead Orchard to its first Men’s Championship division title in the PAL Interclub at tree-lined Marapara, here.
The 22-year-old came up with the perfect going away present as he turns pro next month, playing steadiest on another trying day at the wind-swept course as Orchard – seeing action for the first time in the centrepiece division – completed a Cinderella finish.
Orchard totalled 126 points for the day and 477 overall, a whopping 18 shots clear of Alabang as no one in the field came close to the way it performed in the final day.
Alabang shot 118 for 459 with Del Monte finishing third six points behind and Cebu Country Club faltering even more for fourth spot 40 points off the pace.
King Stehmeier, the second round hero, ably backed up Abdon with 33 and younger brother Ace added 30 for Orchard’s runaway win.
“There were doubts on whether or not we can play with the big boys,” non-playing skipper Francis Montillano told a handful of scribes later. “But we came here ready to play.”
Scoring for Alabang were Justin Quiban 33, Jama Reyes 32, Basti Lorenzo 28 and Gabriel Manotoc 25.
Leonard Lofranco, another talent ripe for the pros, shot 33 and Mel Cubillo had 29 points for Del Monte, the 2011 champ which got 28 each from Joven Lusterio and Noel Langamin.
Cebu CC sorely missed the services of Mark Dy and Lloyd Jefferson Go and floundered in its date with club history.
Marko Sarmiento shot 31 and Ramontito Garcia scored 29 as Cebu CC closed out with 114 after counting the 27s of Jovi Neri and Bayani Garcia.
CLUB FILIPINO DROPS TO 3RD
Meanwhile, third round leader Club Filipino of Cebu dropped to third place overall in the Sportswriters Division with 376 points after submitting its lowest output in the four-day tilt with a measly 83 points.
Eagle Ridge overtook the Cebuano club after scoring 92 points to top the division with a 384 aggregate while Lumbia climbed to second place with a 377 aggregate.
Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club won the Founders division also in runaway fashion after posting 452 points while Manila Southwoods finished 19 points behind Negros in second place. Third place went to Wack Wack which finished with 404. /PR
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