Luisita still up by 12 over Canlubang

Tommy Manotoc. Photo by Romy Homillada

DAVAO—Luisita lost some ground at Rancho Palos Verdes here Saturday but remained a solid championship bet with a 12-point cushion over bitter rival Canlubang going into the final round of Senior play in the PAL Interclub Sunday.

“We’re happy where we are,” said Luisita skipper Iggy Clavecilla, who sat out the third round and watched his teammates pool a 143 led by Francis Gaston’s five-over-par 77 worth 49 points for a 439 total.

The Sugar Barons rallied behind a day-best 147 sparked by Tommy Manotoc’s 53 that shoved them in second place at 427 as Cebu Country Club sputtered with a 138 despite a brilliant 52 points coming from Ramontito Garcia.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia amassed 48 points and Lino Magpantay contributed 46 for Luisita even as Miñing Maravilla, who had 51 points in the first round, failed to count with a 44.

Mari Hechanova accounted for 50 points and either one of the 44 of Rene Unson and playing skipper Luigi Yulo counted as the third-best score for Canlubang.

Final-day action is set at soggy Apo Golf, where the Luisitans gained 12 points over the defending champion Sugar Barons in Thursday’s opening round.

“If we were able to get 12 points from them in Apo (in the first round), they can also do that to us with the team that they have,” Clavecilla said.

A tight battle is also up in the Founders class with Manila Golf holding a 10-point lead over Riviera after shooting 127 also at Apo. Their final round is set at Rancho Palos Verdes.

OV Espiritu led Manila Golf with 49 while Manoling Chan, a lawyer, shooting 42. Mike Prieto contributed 36.

The scores:
Championship
439—Luisita 147-149-143; 427—Canlubang 135-145-147; 420—Cebu Country Club 141-141-138; 405—Alta Vista 130-143-132; 391—Camp John Hay 124-133-134; 383—Orchard 128-134-121; 361—Pueblo De Oro 116-129-116; 360—Philsaga 127-117-116; 270—Australasian 107-70-93; 253—Fil-Am New Jersey 68-64-121; 235—Moffet Fields 93-51-91; 226—IAGC 72-74-80; 221—Samahan YVR 76-65-80; 213—Fil-Oz Sydney 58-79-76; 187—SFO Heritage 63-24-100; 177—Bennet Valley 63-60-54.
Founders
399—Manila Golf 128-144-127; 389—Riviera 126-132-131; 388—Eagle Ridge 129-136-123; 382—Apo 142-117-123; 381—Palos Verdes 129-123-129; 375—Villamor 125-126-124; 370—Phil Navy 134-122-114; 367—Camp Evangelista 124-125-118; 357—Negros 120-117-120; 342—Coral 117-114-111; 341—Manila Southwoods 114-118-109; 329—San Juanico 113-123-93.
Sportswriters:
372—Fil-Am Hawaii 124-112-136; 365—Chamorro 123-1178-125; 352—Davao 110-115-127; 348—Lanang 121-105-121; 347—Maharlika 116-117-114; 325—Saranggani 108-99-121; 321—Veterans 105-111-105; 313—PGA British Columbia 105-104-104; 308—YVR Association 104-95-109; 305—SFO Crystal Springs 95-98-112; 304—Brookside 105-93-106; 302—Texas 85-122-95; 301—Sienna Plantation 92-96-113; 301—Lumbia 91-109-102, Victorias 96-99-106, Guinhalaran 105-105-91; 299—Zamboanga 97-98-104; 289—SFO Peninsula 101-92-96; 286—UP Tee Jots 90-98-98, Iloilo 286 102-93-91; 285—Iligan 93-92-100; 283—Forest Hills 88-104-91; 278—Guam Seals 95-85-98; 241—Paoay 77-84-80.
Friendship:
323—Club Intramuros 113-109-101; 290—Fil-Am Florida 85-107-98; 289—Brotherhood Sharp 104-82-103; 286—South Cotabato 101-97-88, South Bay 100-106-80; 280—Taotaomona Guam 91-93-94; 277—Fil-Am SFO 98-101-78; 275—Travelers 95-78-102; 265—Mabuhay SFO 86-90-89; 252—Ft. Bonifacio 77-88-87; 228—Guam Srs 76-78-74; 246—MSU 69-86-91; 245—Bay Area 79-90-86; 242—SFO Alliance 81-82-79; 238—Leyte 89-74-75; 232—Mt. Malindang 87-78-67; 209—Par Breakers 70-76-63; 200—Mabuhay Las Vegas 75-64-61; 191—Skywest 88-37-64.