Wack Wack seizes PAL lead as Orchard falters

CEBU—Wack Wack found itself the unlikely leader after defending champion Orchard floundered even as Cebu Country Club made a bold move Thursday to breathe down the necks of the pacesetters in the 68th Philippine Airlines Interclub’s centerpiece Championship division.

Sammy Sy shot a four-over-par 76 for 32 points and skipper Elphege Wong accounted for a second straight 31 at the ravine-filled Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao as Wack Wack tallied 117 for the day and 241 overall to ease out front by one over Orchard.

Kit Lopez and Ernesto Marcelo contributed 27 each to round out scoring for Wack Wack, which ditched the 26 of Augusto Salvador.

“We didn’t expect to be leading,” Wong said of the squad that was originally formed to play in the Founders division but was elevated due its high PAL points average. “We will embrace the challenge.”

Veteran Rodel Mangulabnan saved the day somewhat for Orchard by turning in a 31 for a 111 and 240 as the team failed to get the goods from Eric Borromeo and had to count the 22 of Niko Santiano.

King Stehmeier matched Mangulabnan’s 31, with Peter Paul Salvador’s 27 completing the output of Orchard, which stood just one stroke ahead of Manila Southwoods, whose second-round 119 was spiked by the 32 of former club champ Joseph Tambunting.

Vince Lauron carded 31, Jets Sajulga had 29 and Jun Jun Plana posted 27 for Southwoods.

As big a story as Wack Wack zooming to the lead was the ominous move of Cebu CC. The 2012-13 champions, getting a level 36 from the comebacking Mark Dy, tallied a day-best 126 and were just four down—from 18 at the start of the day.

Bayani Garcia fired 31 and Eric Deen and Marko Sarmiento accounted for 30 and 29, in that order, as Cebu CC breathed fire unlike in the opening round where it tallied just 111 over its tree-lined home course here.

Action shifts to Danao again today with the final 18 holes to be held tomorrow at Cebu CC where the club bets are in their most dangerous.

Gen Nagai, the Japanese who has been a stalwart of the squad in those championship years, comes out for the first time for Cebu CC.

Meanwhile, Alabang zoomed to the top of the Founders division with 121, which was actually just two points off the overall pace with 239.

Liam Cully and Philippe Palanca accounted for 33 points each, with Julio Roa shooting 31 and Arnel Paras 24 for Alabang, which slid down to the Founders after contending in the Championship Division in the previous years.

Tagaytay Highlands was just seven points behind after a 112 built around the 30s of Ferdinand Agustin and Young Jun-oh.

Villamor, the first round leader, fired a measly 97 and is now 21 points behind.

Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the tournament. Other backers include Manila Bulletin, Mareco Broadcasting Network, People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.

The scores:

Championship—Wack Wack 241, Orchard 240, Manila Southwoods 239, Cebu 237, Del Monte 228, Royal Northwoods 218, Camp Evangelista 191, Forest Hills 183, Fil Am Fairfield 158, Veterans 142, Camp, Aguinaldo 140, Figme 112

Founders—Alabang 239, Tagaytay Highlands 232, Valley Golf 225, Alta Vista 219, Villamor 218, Negros 218, Club Filipino de Cebu 216, Rancho Palos Verdes 215, Eagle Ridge 210, Riviera 207, Apo Golf 205, Davao 203, Manila Golf 201, Pueblo de Oro 198, Iligan Golf 193, Zamboanga 186, Iloilo 183, Lumbia 172

Sportswriters—Socal Red Hawk 217, Fil Am Hawaii 200, Camp John Hay 195, Mactan Island 189, SFO Maharlika 184, Sta Elena 177, Up Tee Jots 175, PGA British Columbia 175, Sarangani 174, Victorias Golf 173, Bay Area 172, Stanford 171, Philippine Navy 167, Cotabato 163, Pearl Kai Hawaii 159, Guinhalaran 156, Lanang 152, South Cotabato 151, Green Tee Riyadh 150, Sherwood Hills 150, Fil Oz Sydney 148, San Juanico 148, Seattle 146, Greater Vancouver Golf Association 135, Bacolod 133, Green Hills West 129, South Bay 128, Team Leyte 112, Figme UAE 110, Mt Malindang 94, Northgate 90, Filipino Golfers Assoc Kuwait 87

Friendship—Figme Dubai 153, Brotherhood Sharp 145, Van City Golf 142, Pittsburg Fil Am 139, Skywest 132, MSU 123, Mabuhay Golf Club SFO 118, Austral Asian Golf Melbourne 116, SFO Crystal Spring 112, Moffet Field 107, Baguio 98, Yokohama Eagles 78