Canlubang wrests lead by 3 shots

CEBU CITY—Defending champion Canlubang, noted for  its explosive finishing kick, assembled the best team output of 140 points  in yesterday’s third and penultimate round to surge ominously on top by three points over Luisita in Seniors play of the 66th PAL Interclub golf championship here.

Mari Hechanova matched the best round of 49 points at Club Filipino de Cebu achieved by Montito Garcia of Cebu Country Club Friday, Rene Unson added a 48 and Bing Bunye’s  43 counted last as Canlubang, seeking a seventh title in eight years, forged ahead at 420 going into today’s final round at Alta Vista.

Luisita, two up on Canlubang in the first two days while trailing surprise leader Pueblo de Oro, settled for 135 and a 417 total and will pin its hopes mainly on Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia, its top star in the kickoff round with 54 points, to turn the tables on Canlubang this time.

But the Luisitans need to do a lot of scrambling if last year’s results were to serve as gauge.

Luisita showed the way in the first three rounds in Davao before Canlubang, which trailed by 16 points after 36 holes, rallied behind eventual individual champion Tommy Manotoc to clinch a second straight crown by three.

The expected charge from Cebu, which loomed as a Championship division threat in the second round, fizzled out and Pueblo de Oro, as expected, came down to earth with a big thud after managing only 116 points from its new set of four players, who haven’t  played Club Filipino until yesterday.

With Garcia opting to play his final round  today,  Cebu produced no more than 131 for the day and at 413 will now have to beat host Alta Vista (405) for top honors in the Founders class.

This year’s PAL Interclub is sponsored by 105.1 Crossover, Solar Sports, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, 92.3 FM Radyo 5, Araneta Coliseum and AXN. Major sponsors are Airbus, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcasting Network, People Asia, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC).

Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort  & Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.

The scores:

CHAMPIONSHIP—Canlubang 420 (145-135-140); Luisita 417 (147-135-135); Pueblo 401 (153-132-116)

FOUNDERS—Cebu 413 (141-141-131); Alta Vista 408 (142-136-130); Valley Golf 396 (136-132-128);  Eagle Ridge 393 (136-132-125); Manila Golf 391 (146-127-118); Mactan Island  386 (124-127-135); Wack Wack 384 (126-137-121); Fil-Am Hawaii 381 (115-129-137); Orchard 376 (135-122-119); Apo 376 (127-123-126); Riviera 374 (132-128-114); Del Monte 372 (128-113-131); Red Hawk 371 (135-119-107);  Camp Evangelista 371 (128-114-129); Villamor 368 (123-122-123); Baguio 367 (124-124-119); North Bay Boys 367 (92-104-71);  Negros 363 (125-127-111); Palos  Verdes 361 (127-129-105); Southwoods 354 119-125-110)

SPORTSWRITERS—Fil-Am Florida 353 (106-120-127); SFO Crystal Springs 349 (114-120-115); Intramuros 347 (111-110-126); Texas 346 (104-130-112); San Juanico 343 (118-110-115); Lanang 343 (115-109-119)

FRIENDSHIP—Sharp Brotherhood 302 (95-103-104); Fil-Am SFO 292 (92-95-105); Sienna 284 (82-99-103); Pittsburg 271 (93-91-87); SFO Alliance 262 (69-99-94); Mt. Malindang 261 (80-99-82);  Leyte 247 (75-93-79); Skywest 238 (84-91-63); Ft. Bonifacio 233 (71-98-64); Moffet 231 (82-68-81)