Asistio lifts S’woods by 2 over Orchard

CEBU—Tonlits Asistio picked the perfect stage to announce that he’s back, and, at the same time, tell everyone that he’s moving up to a bigger stage again.

Just over three years after surviving an attempt on his life that left him blind in the left eye, Asistio came up with his worthiest Philippine Airlines Interclub performance to lead Southwoods to a first Men’s Championship division crown in 14 years.

The 25-year-old fired an eagle-spiked 2-under-par 70 worth 38 points at tree-lined Cebu Country Club here and powered Southwoods to a closing 128 output and a two-point win over Orchard in an intense Interclub finish to remember.

Justin Quiban also had an eagle but finished bogey-bogey for 36 points with Ryu Ken Yasuma and skipper Thirdy Escano shooting 27s to round out Southwoods’ scoring for the day and a 493 overall total.

“We couldn’t think of a better anchor [than Asistio], and he delivered,” Escano said shortly before whooping it up with the rest of the squad behind the 18th green.

Southwoods stared at a four-point deficit against defending champion Orchard with the final three flights entering their last five holes, only for Quiban and Asistio to eagle the par-5 16th and set up  the torrid finish.

Raymund Sangil shot 34 points and Kristoffer Arevalo and JP De Claro turned in 33s with Orchard counting the 27 of Aian Arcilla for a 127 that left the Cavite-based club finishing tantalizingly short of a repeat.

Cebu Country Club couldn’t sustain its hot second round charge, turning in 126 to be nine points behind in third with Wack Wack, getting a solid 35 points from senior superstar Tommy Manotoc, checking in fourth another four points behind.

Montito Garcia, also another senior hotshot, fired 35 points for Cebu CC.

The scores:

CHAMPIONSHIP—Manila Southwoods 493, Orchard 491, Cebu 484, Wackwack 480, Royal Northwoods 379, Del Monte 478, Forest Hills 435, Veterans 318, Fil Am Fairfield 295, Camp Aguinaldo 294, Camp Evangelista 274, Figme 202

FOUNDERS—Alabang 465, Alta Vista 449, Valley Golf 441, Negros 440, Apo Golf 439, Villamor 438, Rancho Palos Verdes 425, Tagaytay Highlands 424, Riviera 420, Club Filipino de Cebu 409, Pueblo de Oro 399, Iligan 396, Eagle Ridge 391, Davao 387, Manila Golf 376, Zamboanga 366

SPORTSWRITER—Socal Red Hawk 420, Stanford 390, Iloilo 386, Camp John Hay 379, Sta. Elena 378, Mactan Island 374, Fil Am Hawaii 372, Lumbia 370 SFO Maharlika 368, Sarangani 360, PGA British Columbia 357, Victorias Golf 347, Philippine Navy 333, Pearl Kai Hawaii 333, UP Tee Jots 332, Sherwood Hills 312, South Cotabato 306, Bay Area 304, Bacolod 302, Lanang 300, Cotabato 293, San Juanico 288, Guinhalaran 280, Green Tea Riyadh 271, South Bay 267, Seattle 265, Fil Oz Sydney 248, Greenhills West 240, Northgate 229, Team Leyte 221, Filipino Golfers Assoc Kuwait 212, Greater Vacouver Golf Assoc 209, Figme UAE 201, Mt Malindang 197

FRIENDSHIP—Skywest 284, Pittsburg Fil-Am 274, Brotherhood Sharp 273, Figme Dubai 269, MSU 259,Van City Golf 252, SFO Crystal Spring 248, Mabuhay Golf Club SFO 230, Austral Asian Golf Melbourne 227, Moffet Field 221,  Baguio 205, Yokohama Eagles 162