Southwoods title defense starts; Cebu CC is main threat

CEBU—Star-studded Manila Southwoods has all the talent on paper to repeat in the centerpiece Philippine Airlines Interclub men’s championship division that starts on Wednesday.

Cebu Country Club (CC), meanwhile, has all the experience and battle-scarred players that can prevent that from happening.

“It’s an advantage that we have over the young guys,” Cebu CC stalwart Carl Almario told the Inquirer after the official practice round at their exclusive home club, one of two sites to be used this week for the 72-hole championship. “Being used to playing these types of courses is an advantage.”

Club Filipino in Danao is another traditional course, not well-manicured like a lot of players in the field are used to playing, and Almario believes that—coupled with numbing Interclub pressure at crunchtime—this could make a huge difference.

“We know these courses, especially this one (Cebu CC),” Almario went on. “If we can maximize that, then we have a big chance. But remember, we are the old guys playing here.”

Tested veterans

Cebu CC also has playing captain Bayani Garcia, Eric Deen and Mark Dy, stalwarts of the team that won the centerpiece division last decade coming from the lower Founders group. A total of four of Cebu CC players are playing the seniors division already, but Almario still gives his squad an even chance.

Southwoods, meanwhile, has a couple of Philippine Team members in Kristoffer Arevalo and Gab Manotoc, and the Championship division will have eight teams playing this year, the most in the history of the Interclub.

Action will be at Cebu CC in the first and last rounds and Club Filipino in the middle two.

Del Monte, Eastridge, Pueblo de Oro, Sta. Elena, Tagaytay Highlands and Valley Golf are the other teams campaigning in the premier division. INQ