Intent on regaining crown, Canlubang opens seniors race with four-shot lead

BACOLOD—Packing firepower on a day it needed to, Canlubang conquered a tough Marapara test Thursday and broke out of the gates hard in the 32nd PAL Seniors Interclub championship.

Damasus Wong scored a three-over-par 73 worth 51 points and brothers Abe and Pem Rosal combined for 99 more in a very trying round at the tree-lined, bending layout here for an opening 150—a far cry from their start last year when they blew their “four-peat” quest on the first 18 holes.

Canlubang opened with a 124 last year in Davao to trail the Luisitans by 21 right away.

“That was a fluke,” said Cangolf nonplaying skipper Tony Olives as the Barons opened up with a solid four-man team to make sure that what happened at Apo Golf wouldn’t see a repeat.

So efficient were the Barons that they threw away the 48 of Zaldy Villa, even as Luisita was led by the 50 of former University of Santo Tomas cager Edmund Yee and the 49 of Rodel Mangulabnan.

The Luisitans counted either 47s of Jingy Tuason and Chino Raymundo, with Del Monte bringing up the rear of the compact Championship Division field by scoring 132 to be 18 points behind.

Despite going into Friday’s second round trailing, Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova praised his charges and gave credit where it is due.

“We’re happy with the way we scored,” Hechanova said. “My hat’s off to Canlubang for that very good score, but I feel we’re going to get stronger as the tournament wears on.”