BACOLOD—Orchard recovered just in time on a truly punishing day at Marapara Thursday, salvaging a second- round 109 points that padded its lead over Del Monte to six after 36 holes of the 67th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s championship here.
With its lineup floundering on the front nine with a total of nine pick-ups, Orchard turned to the seasoned King Stehmeier, who fired a four-over-par 74 worth 32 points and boosted the Dasmariñas, Cavite-based squad farther away from Del Monte with a 238 total.
Del Monte, the 2011 champion, struggled with just 106 for 232 even as Alabang, the second placer last year in Cebu, made a big move by pooling 118 as Justin Quiban shot 37 and Andres Saldaña rebounded from an atrocious opening day at Binitin with 34.
Alabang, from 20 down at the start of the day, moved within 11 of Orchard and two ahead of struggling “three-peat”-seeking Cebu Country Club, which pooled 110 built around the 29s of playing skipper Montito Garcia and his burly namesake Bayani.
JP De Claro gave Stehmeier valuable support with 29 points. TJ Benitez shot 25 and either 23s of Ian Arcilla and Ace Stehmeier counted as the fourth score for the Championship Division rookie team.
“We will make sure to come up with two reliable scorers in each of the last two days to balance the lineups,” Orchard captain Francis Montallana said.
“It was tough out there and we were fortunate enough to get going in the final nine,” said the 31-year-old Stehmeier, who abandoned plans of turning pro several years ago to concentrate on his pro shop in Sta. Rosa City.
Mel Cubillo scored 30 points, Noel Langga-min had 28 and Magno Arancon Jr. scored 27 for Del Monte, which was pulled down by the 21 of its fourth man, Joven Lusterio.
“We will tinker with our lineup for the last two days and discard all pre-tournament plans,” said non-playing captain Kristin Leonen.
Miguel Shah fired 24 and Paul Salvador 23 to complete scoring for Alabang, which will miss Saldaña, who has completed 36 holes.
Eric Deen and Marko Sarmiento contributed 26 each for Cebu.
Valley Golf clung to the Founders Division lead after shooting 96 points, also at Marapara, as Adrian Mauricio scored 29 and Raymund Puyat 24. Counting its opening 114, Valley now leads Apo Golf by 10 with a 210 total.
Club Filipino zoomed out front in the Sportswriters Division after shooting 98 at Binitin for 197, four points ahead of Lumbia.
South Cotabato pulled away from Cotabato in the Friendship Division with a 91 for 171.
The second round scores:
CHAMPIONSHIP—Orchard 238, Del Monte 232, Alabang CC 227, Cebu CC 225, Anvaya Cove 130, Camp John Hay 117, Fil Oz Sydney 112, Figme UAE 111, Greenhills West 110, Moffet Field 104, MSU Golf 100, Filipino Golfers Kuwait 77.
FOUNDERS—Negros Occ. 220, Valley Golf 210, Manila Southwoods 201, Apo Golf 200, Zamboanga 200, Forest Hills 200, Tagaytay Highlands 199, Sta Elena 194, Riviera 194, Alta Vista 191, Manila Golf 188, Mactan Island 186, Iligan 184, Wack Wack 183, Villamor 183, Rancho Palos Verdes 182, Pueblo De Oro 177, Maharlika 130, Yokohama Eagles 65
SPORTSWRITERS—Club Filipino 197, Lumbia 193, Bacolod 191, Eagle Ridge 186, Davao City 180, So Cal Redhawk 178, Iloilo 176, Guinhalaran 172, Bay Area 170, Sherwood Hills-Suntrust 158, Lanang 158, Sarangani 154, Navy 152, PGA of BC 143, Baguio CC 140, Fil Am Fairfield 129, Pittsburg Fil Am 128, Leyte 127, Van City 97, South Bay 94, Greater Vancouver 92
NOTES: This year’s Interclub is co-sponsored by CrossOver. Boeing, Philippines Graphic, Stargate Media and Rogue are corporate backers. Also lending support are Airbus, Business Mirror, One Mega Group, Philippine Broadcasting Corp., Manila Broadcasting Corp. and Manila Bulletin.