PAL Seniors: Luisita edges past Canlubang

PEPOT Iñigo of Luisita studies his shot on hole No. 5 during the PAL Interclub at Bacolod Golf & Country Club yesterday. EDWIN BELLOSILLO

BACOLOD—It was just a one-point margin but Luisita’s surge to the top past defending champion Canlubang Thursday underscored its determined bid to wrest the Seniors title in the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf championship here.

With former pro Eddie Bagtas  celebrating his return as an amateur  with a 2-over-par 74 worth 52 points, the Luisitans amassed 144 to edge Canlubang by one as Rolly Viray made 51 at the Bacolod Golf andCountry Club in Murcia.

Orchard actually made it a tight three-way fight in the championship division before ignominiously losing seven points on two grave miscues by Jun Bailee.

With Bailee failing to pick up on the 14th hole, Orchard, earlier credited also with 144, was penalized two points and settled for 142. Bailee, who entered a  better score on the 15th,  was later disqualified for signing the wrong scorecard, eventually leaving Orchard with 137 for the day as Lim Jim-gon’s 41 was counted in place of Bailee’s 48.

Louie Garcia also had a 52 for Orchard while Nestor Sevilla added 44 points.

Pepot Iñigo (49) and Seve Roxas-Chua (43) backed   the now 58-year-old Bagtas, who also played for Luisita in the Men’s category  of the Interclub before turning pro several years ahead of Frankie Miñoza, who started to dominate the sport in the ’90s.

“Wala ng magawa (I had nothing more to do), said  Bagtas of his decision to play golf again after keeping off his clubs for almost two years. He said he played daily  the last two months to prepare for the Interclub.

Dave Hernandez and Tony Olives  both had 46 points for Canlubang, which is seeking a fourth straight crown in the event for players 55 years and above.