CEBU CITY—Just when no one gave it a second look, Southwoods made its biggest move and assembled 126 points Friday as the 68th Philippine Airlines Interclub toasted a different leader after 54 holes of the Men’s Championship division here.
Vince Lauron, who was in the early years of a professional career in 2001 when Southwoods last won this event, fired a two-over-par 74 worth 34 points at the hazard-laden Club Filipino de Cebu course in Danao to boost the Carmona-based squad to a one-point lead over defending champion Orchard.
Joseph Tambunting, the club champion last year, shot 31 like Jets Sajulga and Jun Jun Plana added 30 as Southwoods, which had earlier rounds of 120-119, pooled a 365 total.
Southwoods, whose last champion squad included the likes of Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami and Jerome Delariarte, discarded the 29 of Manfred Guangko.
“We set a target for them and they delivered,” said Delariarte, the non-playing assistant skipper to Thirdy Escano. “It’s going to be down-the-wire [in the final round today] and we have a good, solid team coming out.”
Orchard drew 36 points from Rodel Mangulabnan and 32 from the reliable King Stehmeier for 124 that kept them very much in the hunt for a championship repeat.
Peter Paul Salvador submitted 31 and Niko Santiano had a 25 for Orchard, even as Cebu Country Club climbed another rung in the standings but fell seven points off the lead after a 121 built around Gen Nagai’s 33 for 358.
Second-round leader Wack Wack was good for just 116 and 357, now tied with Del Monte. John Gobing led all Wack Wack scorers with 30 as Gary Uy and Tootsie de Jesus shot 29s and Gab Manotoc carded 28.
Jelbert Gamolo was fielded in for the first time and scored 35 for Del Monte, which tallied a day-best 129. The 32s of Crispin Abarilla and Julius Bautista and 30 of Julius Langgamin backed up Gamolo.
National pool member Justin Quiban and the returning Tonlits Asistio will spearhead Southwoods in today’s final round at tree-lined Cebu CC, with Raymund Sangil and Kristoffer Arevalo, the top two scorers in the first round, leading the fight for Orchard.
Nagai plays for the second straight day and together with Eric Deen will be the main guns for Cebu CC, which is seeking a third title in four years, the second in its home course.
Alabang, meanwhile, slowed down with 116 points but still led Apo Golf and Alta Vista by a commanding 22 points in the Founders Division with a 355 tally built around the 31s of Liam Cully and Philippe Palanca.
Socal Red Hawk all but put the Sportswriters Division title in the bag with a 33-point lead over Fil-Am Hawaii and Stanford Golf Team after a third round 104 at Cebu CC for 321.
Figme-Dubai took a one-point lead over Brotherhood Sharp going into the final 18 holes of the Friendship Division.
(One Mega, People Asia, Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the PAL Interclub Seniors and Regular Men’s events. Other backers include Manila Bulletin, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.)
The scores:
Championship—Manila Southwoods 365, Orchard 364, Cebu 358, Wack Wack 357, Del Monte 356, Forest Hills 302, Royal Northwoods 281, Fil Am Fairfield 238, Veterans 235, Camp Evangelista 230, Camp Aguinaldo 229, Figme 156
Founders—Alabang 355, Apo Golf 333, Alta Vista 333, Negros 328, Valley Golf 327, Tagaytay Highlands 324, Riviera 323, Rancho Palos Verdes 323, Villamor 320, Club Filipino de Cebu 316, Davao 304, Eagle Ridge 300 Pueblo de Oro 298, Iligan golf 298, Manila Golf 279, Zamboanga 272
Sportswriters—Socal Red Hawk 321, Fil Am Hawaii 288, Stanford 288, Iloilo 286, Mactan Island 281, Sta Elena 279, Camp John Hay 279, Sarangani 273, PGA Brirish Columbia 266, SFO Maharlika 264, Lumbia 264, Victorias Golf 262, UP Tee Jots 256, Philippine Navy 251, Pearl Kai Hawaii 247, Bay Area 242, Green Tee Riyadh 240, Sherwood Hills 239, South Cotabato 235, Lanang 229, Bacolod 223, Cotabato 223 San Juanico 222, Guinhalaran 218, Seattle 213, Fil Oz Sydney 209, South Bay 207, Greenhills West 181, Greater Vancouver Golf Assoc 174, Northgate 171, Team Leyte 166, Filipino Golfers Assoc Kuwait 154, Figme UAE 153, Mt Malindang 146
Friendship—Figme Dubai 210, Brotherhood Sharp 209, Skywest 204, Van City Golf 195, Pittsburg Fil Am 195, SFO Crystal Spring 181, MSU 180, Mabuhay Golf Club SFO 175, Moffet Field 154, Austral Asian Golf Melbourne 153, Baguio 149, Yokohama Eagles 118