ORCHARD’S Nico Santiano makes his putt on No. 8 of Binitin. ROMY HOMILLADA
BACOLOD—Getting an unexpected lift from a rookie, Orchard moved closer Friday to a first ever Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s championship.
With Nico Santiano firing a three-over 73 worth 33 points at Bacolod Golf and Country Club’s tight Binitin course in Murcia town, Orchard assembled 113 to lead by 10 over new pursuer Alabang going into the final 18 holes of the country’s unofficial golf team championships.
Raymund Sangil produced 32, the veteran Rodel Mangulabnan delivered 29 and Orchard held its ground despite counting the 19 of Antonio Payumo for a 351 aggregate ahead of today’s final round at tough-as-nails Marapara.
Orchard, seeing action in the Championship Division for the first time after ruling the Founders bracket for several years, discarded the 17 of TJ Benitez.
Alabang got 31 points from Basti Lorenzo, 30 from Christopher Popp and 28 and 25 from Jama Reyes and Gabriel Manotoc, respectively, for 114 and a 341 total to remain on track for a breakthrough title after finishing second to Cebu Country Club last year.
Cebu’s bid for a “three-peat” vanished as its star-studded cast managed only 98 points. The Cebuanos fell 28 points off the pace with a 323 total.
“It’s a formidable lead, but it’s not impossible to lose in one day,” non-playing Orchard skipper Francis Montillano said. “We lost 11 points to Alabang in the second round (at Marapara on Thursday) and we need to keep that in mind.”
Santiano, who scored 28 points on Wednesday, had three birdies, bogeyed all the four par-3s and had a pick-up on the dog-leg left par-4 11th hole.
A strong lineup tries to close things out for Orchard today at Marapara with Jik-Jik Abdon to be joined by Ace Stehmeier, JP De Claro, club champion Ian Salvador and second-round hero King Stehmeier.
Alabang will also have a formidable five for the final day with Justin Quiban, whose one-under 69 boosted the team to a tournament-best 118 points three days ago, joining forces with Manotoc, Reyes, Lorenzo and Ramon Garcia.
Del Monte, the 2011 champion, also faded out of the title picture after shooting 103 for 335, 16 off the lead.
Leonard Lofranco fired 30 points and Jansen Morilla shot 26 for Del Monte, whose next two scorers were Jelbert Gamolo (24) and Julius Bautista (23).
Negros Occidental pad-ded its lead in the Founders Division lead to 12 over Valley Golf after shooting 106 points at Binitin while Lumbia pulled away in the Sportswriters Division with a 25-point lead over SO Cal Redhawk.
Fil-Am Hawaii took a six-point lead over Cotabato in the Friendship Division.